We hear a lot today about personal freedom, and how valuable it is, but what does freedom really mean? To the prisoner, bondservant, or slave, freedom becomes the primary goal. As patriots, we extol the personal freedoms for which our ancestors fought and died. Freedom has great value to those who have it and especially to those who do not.
What is freedom? Are prisoners truly free when they have served their time and are released? Does a nation gain freedom by overthrowing an oppressive government? Does our quest to “do our own thing” bring freedom? Can we trade freedom for peace and security?
Newspapers often use a quote from Jesus on their masthead and the front of their buildings. It reads, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This implies knowledge is the key to freedom, and the newspaper sets people free by keeping them informed. However, if we read that passage of John in context, Jesus was speaking of a particular kind of truth; the gospel of Jesus Christ, which frees us from the slavery of sin.
When the Jews asked Jesus to define freedom, He replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).
Jesus speaks of a true freedom that releases us from sin and puts us in a place of honor as adopted sons and daughters in the family of God. He makes it clear that the only way to gain this freedom is through faith in Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that, as Christians, we are now free to the same selfish interests that guided us before salvation? Peter said, “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God”(1 Peter 2:16).
We are free indeed, but that freedom comes with an obligation. It is an obligation we would not have the capacity to fulfill without the aid of the Holy Spirit who comes to those who are free in Christ. We are obligated to obey the Word of God, subject ourselves to one another, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19).
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Excellent! I just wrote an article for a local Christian newspaper on freedom and the signers of the declaration for the July issue. I compared the beginnings of our country with the beginnings of the new church in the time of Paul. This is a great post that takes the idea even further.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.