Emancipation Proclamation (1)

Introduction:

1. In our few minutes, we want Paul’s highest goal of Christ crucified and His cross (I Cor 2:2; Gal 6:14).
2. How great is your joy of salvation? Is it consuming you right now? Are you eager with anticipation?
3. Or are you like the foolish, lazy Jewish church in Malachi that snuffed at His worship (Mal 1:6-14)?
4. Anything less than total devotion and passion for what He has done is not enough, so let us all repent.
5. It is my job to see if by the Spirit and word I can rouse your love of Christ from America’s prosperity.
6. The combination of His gift of eternal life and the proclamation of it in detail to you is overwhelming.
7. Our nation has an Emancipation Proclamation in its history; flush politics and philosophy for freedom.
8. We are here as a N.T. church to remember, serve, and worship the greatest Emancipator that saved us.
9. We would not know anything at all about our greatest emancipation without the greatest proclamation.

 

 

Emancipation Proclamation (Proclamation 95)

Presidential Executive Order by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863

 

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 declared that all persons held as slaves were free as of that date. This proclamation applied to more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans, changing their legal status from slave to free. This presidential order and the good news it conveyed, brought an end to the physical chains that had bound these persons, giving them liberty, hope, and excitement for new lives in the greatest nation in history.

 

Text of the 1/1/1863 Emancipation Proclamation … here.

Text of the 9/22/1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation … here.

 

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (September 22, 1862):

After the Union’s victory at the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issued a warning to the Confederate states. Lincoln declared that if they did not cease their resistance by January 1, 1863, he would issue an official emancipation order for all the slaves in the South. Its primary significance was to shift the Union war effort toward ending slavery, discourage foreign intervention by framing the war as a fight against slavery, and encourage enslaved people to escape to Union lines.

 

Final Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863):

The South did not cease their resistance after President Lincoln’s warning, so on January 1, 1863 as promised, he declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to no longer be slaves but to be legally free persons. This proclamation paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery nationwide by the 13th Amendment and signaled a moral and political shift toward ending slavery as a central goal of the Union.

 

Significance:

Together, these proclamations redefined the purpose of the Civil War, aligning it with the abolition of slavery and laying the groundwork for racial equality. They also bolstered the Union war effort, discouraged foreign support for the Confederacy, and inspired enslaved people to seek freedom, significantly impacting the future of American society and civil rights.

 

Definitions:

1. Emancipate = To set free from control; to release from legal, social, or political restraint.
2. Emancipation = The action or process of setting free or delivering from slavery; and hence, generally, from restraints imposed by superior physical force or legal obligation; liberation. Setting free, delivering from intellectual, moral, or spiritual fetters.
3. Proclaim = To make official announcement of (something), by word of mouth in some public place; also, to cause this to be done by officers or agents.
4. Proclamation = The action of proclaiming; the official giving of public notice. That which is proclaimed, either as to its substance or its form; a formal order issued by the sovereign or other legal authority, and made public by being announced by a herald, or by being posted up in public places.

 

Considerations:

1. The Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln was a significant event in the history of our great nation, no matter your personal opinions about it, that freed bondslaves from their masters.
2. But the gospel of Christ is an emancipation proclamation far greater every way that freed condemned slaves from claims of God’s law, Satan’s control over them, their bondage to sin, and death and hell.
3. EP = public declaration by a ruler that persons owned and controlled by others are now legally free.
4. For the value of this event as an illustration, you must flush distracting political or philosophical ideas.
5. Put yourself, in your present family role, into slavery with a hard master to appreciate the EP’s value.
6. Compare hopelessness of being owned by a hard or fearful man to freedom, safety, peace, opportunity.
7. At all times keep in sight and mind that our captivity and slavery in sin and salvation from it exceeds!
8. Slaveowners tried to deny or silence President Lincoln’s EP like the devil the gospel (II Cor 4:3-4).

 

The EP of the Exodus from Egypt

 

I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians (Exodus 3:20-22).

 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also (Exodus 12:29-32).

 

It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations (Exodus 12:42).

 

Considerations:

1. Jacob and Joseph had it good in Egypt, but a new king over Egypt did not know Joseph or his people.
2. Fearing Israel, he afflicted them by bitter lives of hard, rigorous bondage and killed boys (Ex 1:8-22).
3. When the tactics failed, Pharaoh kept the same brick quota but provided no straw to them (Ex 5:4-13).
4. When Israel could not fulfill their quotas, they were beaten by the Egyptian taskmasters (Ex 5:14-21).
5. God heard their sighing and groaning by reason of bondage and recalled His covenant (Ex 2:23-25).
6. The night God proclaimed Israel’s freedom and Pharaoh did as well was a night to be remembered.
7. Israel kept the Passover feast for 1500 years, and our Lord Jesus attended four during His ministry.
8. The Exodus from Egypt by Passover is superseded by Christ our Passover and communion (I Cor 5:7).
9. Ours is a covenant God; His everlasting covenant with Christ for us is sure (Heb 6:13-20; 13:20-21).

 

The EP of the Return from Babylon, by Cyrus the Great of Persia

 

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-3).

Considerations:

1. God promised Jeremiah that Israel would be in Babylon 70 years; He told Isaiah the name of Cyrus.
2. The return of the church from Babylon by Cyrus was initiated by his proclamation to all his kingdom.
3. The required features of deliverance from slavery and a public declaration of it make this a clear EP.
4. Prophecies of this fantastic rescue from impregnable Babylon often transitioned into Christ’s kingdom.
5. For the greatest EP in history and even in the imagination of man was yet to come by GOD Jehovah.

 

Suggested Links:

1. Facets of Our Salvation … here.
2. Unsearchable Riches of Christ … here.
3. Eternal Life Is a Gift … here.
4. Before the World Began … here.
5. I Gave Egypt for Thy Ransom … here.
6. Reversal of Fortune in Christ … here.
7. Church Jewels in Isaiah PPT … here.
8. Jesus Christ Our Passover … here.
9. Christ in Glory (Revelation 5) … here.
10. A Lake, A Book, A Lamb … here.

 

Introduction:

1. Let us survey a few angles of our slavery and precious Bible verses proclaiming our freedom in Christ.
2. A popular term today is intervention, but there is no intervention like our Lord intervening to save us.
3. This is the greatest drama of rescue and reversal of fortune possible; all human dramas fully disappear.
4. Our quiz teams are learning Romans, starting with condemnation, then salvation, then proclamation!
5. EP can be seen in five phases of varying deliverance and/or publishing (Titus 1:2 … I Cor 15:54-57).
6. The gospel declares us free (emancipated or liberated) from masters guilt, sin, Satan, death, and hell.
7. Many prophecies are of God’s Servant and Son, the Messiah, saving His people to glorious freedom.
8. Comparing other EPs fails by (1) our damned and doomed situation and (2) resulting incredible liberty!
9. If three examples given resulted in great joy and perpetual remembrance, what about us freed sinners!

 

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;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  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 righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3

 

14  And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

15  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

16  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Luke 4:14-21

 

Condemned and Cursed

1. By Adam’s sin and our sins we were on death row to die physically and eternally; God’s perfect judgment passed the sentence (Gen 2:17; Romans 5:12,16,18; 6:23; Rev 20:15).
2. We loved darkness rather than light, condemning ourselves by unbelief (John 3:18-19).
3. Jesus will curse all those on His left into everlasting fire (Matt 25:41; II Thess 1:8-9).

 

Slavery and Bondage

1. Sin and the inability to stop sinning makes a person a bond servant of sin (II Peter 2:19).
2. Committing sin makes a person the servant of sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:12,16,20,22).
3. The fear of death without any remedy creates a lifetime of bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15).

 

Captive and Imprisoned

1. We were captives securely in the devil’s palace or prison house (Ep 2:1-3; Luke 11:21).
2. Paul described the law of sin in his members making him a captive to lusts (Rom 7:23).
3. Before and until God grants repentance, Satan takes us captive at his will (II Tim 2:26).

 

Damned and Doomed

1. Damn or damnation = to declare guilty to be punished by judicial sentence; condemn.
2. Damnation is Jesus’ term (Matt 23:33; Mark 16:16; John 5:29; II Thes 2:12; II Pet 2:3).
3. Doomed without hope are we as aliens from God (Eph 2:12; Rom 1:18-23; Ps 49:6-9).

 

Your future is horribly hopeless. You are guilty by the only absolute court and Judge in the universe. You are decaying and dying while I preach. You will be condemned and cursed to everlasting fire for an eternity of torment. You are a slave to its cause – sin – and you cannot help yourself, no matter the resolutions you have made. You are a willing captive of Satan, for whom the lake of fire was made, and you are damned and doomed with him.

 

EMANCIPATION  (DELIVERED)

Emancipate = To set free from control; to release from legal, social, or political restraint.

Emancipation = The action or process of setting free or delivering from slavery; and hence, generally, from restraints imposed by superior physical force or legal obligation; liberation. Setting free, delivering from intellectual, moral, or spiritual fetters.

1. Emancipation or liberation of sinners is done with eternal life reigning (Rom 5:1-21).
2. Jesus destroyed the devil’s claim of death to save us from fear of death (Heb 2:14-15).
3. There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus that walk after the Spirit (Rom 8:1).
   1. A new rule of life by regeneration and the Spirit can live victoriously (Romans 8:2).
   2. Moses’ law only condemned men, but God’s substitutionary Son won (Romans 8:3).
   3. This emancipation or deliverance assigned us the law’s righteousness (Romans 8:4).
4. Our emancipation from sin is so thorough we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:31-39).
5. Jesus led captivity captive by saving us from Satan to make us His (Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8).
6. Jesus as the Light of the world saved Gentiles from the prison house (Isaiah 42:7; 49:9).
7. Jesus freed captives of Satan by the finger of God (Luke 11:20-22; Eph 2:1-7; Col 1:13).
8. Jesus spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them openly (Col 2:14-15).
9. Our freedom in Christ is so great it overwhelms any slavery on earth (I Cor 7:22-23).
10. Creation will be delivered from bondage of corruption into glorious liberty (Rom 8:21).
11. Current sufferings cannot be compared to coming liberty of God’s sons (Rom 8:17-23).
12. Rather than a new state or city to live in, we will have a new universe (II Pet 3:10-14).
13. Rather than renting due to lack of capital, He has prepared a place for us (Jn 14:1-3).
14. The king of terrors was defeated and mocked – we sleep (Job 18:14; I Cor 15:55,51).
15. We were cursed by the Law, but Jesus redeemed us by being cursed for us (Gal 3:13).
16. Emancipation in Christ makes all equal before God (Col 3:11; Galatians 3:28; I Pet 3:7).
17. Every earthly distinction that restricts men is gone in Christ (Col 3:11; Gal 3:28); Christ Himself is our all – our true identity, value, hope, security, family, future, etc.; Christ is in all – each believer (Col 1:25-27) – church (Rev 2:5; 3:20) – all else is overwhelmed.
18. President Lincoln was the champion and savior of his EP, but Jesus of His (Rev 1:18).

 

PROCLAMATION  (DECLARED)

Proclaim = To make official announcement of (something), by word of mouth in some public place; also, to cause this to be done by officers or agents.

Proclamation = The action of proclaiming; the official giving of public notice. That which is proclaimed, either as to its substance or its form; a formal order or intimation issued by the sovereign or other legal authority, and made public either by being announced by a herald, or by being posted up in public places.

1. The gospel was proclaimed (2) and preached (2) by Jesus (Is 61:1-3; Luke 4:14-22).
2. God promised eternal life before the world began to manifest it in due time (Tit 1:1-3).
3. Salvation is by God’s eternal purpose but brought to light by preaching (II Tim 1:8-11).
4. The great Mediator of the elect gave His life as a ransom to be testified (I Tim 2:5-6).
5. Publishing the gospel is so great, its heralds have beautiful feet (Is 52:7; Romans 10:15).
6. Recalling the gospel, especially resurrection, keeps us from misery (I Cor 15:1-2,19).
7. If the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more of righteousness (II Cor 3:9).
8. A Christian’s position in Christ gives him total possession of all things (I Cor 3:21-23).
9. The Spirit of Christ by regeneration and conversion is liberty for glory (II Cor 3:17-18).
10. Justified and at peace with God, we have grace now and hope of glory (Romans 5:1-5).
11. He that heareth and believeth hath everlasting life and shall not be condemned (Jn 5:24).
12. Hearing the truth of the gospel and believing it frees us from sin bondage (Jn 8:32,36).
13. The gospel has liberty in Christ to avoid the yoke of bondage (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:3; 5:1).
14. Satan has power over men until God gives repentance for their escape (II Tim 2:25-26).
15. The gospel turned the Thessalonians to God to wait for their Deliverer (I Thess 1:8-10).
16. We claim the proclamation’s freedom by faith and baptism (Gal 3:26-29; Rom 10:1-4).
17. Conversion, starting by baptism, is practical freedom of former slaves (Rom 6:17-23).

 

Universal Equality in Christ

Salvation and a new creation eliminates fleshly human distinctions to exalt Christ (Col 3:11; Gal 3:28).

1. Differences among men are used to despise or exalt others … or to despise ourselves or exalt ourselves.
2. The family difference made by God in the Old Testament is fully gone in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22).
3. The religious difference made by God in the Old Testament is fully gone in Christ (Galatians 6:15).
4. The national and cultural differences made by God in providence are gone in Christ (Galatians 3:8).
5. The class differences made by God in economic Providence are overcome in Christ (I Cor 7:20-24).
6. The sexual difference made by God in his providence of roles is gone in Christ (Gal 3:28; I Pet 3:7).
7. Our entire lives are wrapped up in Jesus Christ, with no differences or handicaps to defeat or distract.
8. All spiritual blessings are found in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3; I Cor 1:30), who is in each of us.
9. We have no excuses to justify any sin in our lives. We have professed Jesus Christ, and He is all.
10. Ye are complete in Him (Col 2:10). Know and adore His Person. Know and value His salvation.
11. Your position in Jesus Christ is so glorious, that living and walking in Him should be an easy choice.
12. All men are on a level in Christ in all things spiritual …. grace, forgiveness, heaven, Spirit, acceptable worship, access to God, speed of pardon, freeness of forgiveness, complete standing, brother to Christ, equals at Lord’s Table, names equal in Book of Life, full image of Christ in each by regeneration, etc.
13. This fact is the mystery Paul taught by dispensation (Col 1:25-27): Christ in you, the hope of glory!

 

Conclusion:

1. The Trinity Hymnal, Ah Holy Jesus, verse three has, the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
2. Israel celebrated the Passover EP for 1500 years; communion has been kept 2000 years. What of you?
3. Based on the Emancipation Proclamation of the gospel witness of Jesus Christ, you should be on fire.
4. What hinders you from being a lover of Jesus Christ like Paul? You owe Him all, and He is worthy.