“For brethren, you have been called unto liberty.” Galatians 5:13
Dear Ones:
What constitutes true freedom? What IS freedom? Just the word “freedom” speaks to us of a condition of mind and heart, and perhaps body, where there is the opposite experience. So, what IS freedom, freedom from what? And what is heaven’s perspective?
True freedom, spiritual freedom, is not anarchy, where “everyone does what is right in his own eyes.” The concept of true freedom begins with God as our Creator and Redeemer. It is HE that sets the truth before us of our lost estate, that spiritual reality of being, as David put it: “…born in sin.” Paul elaborates on the matter by simply saying that we were, “…dead in our trespasses and sins,” (Eph.2:1). Not only are we born into this world in this state of mind and heart, where we are held prisoner to the “law of sin,” but we are under the authority of the god of this world, held captive to DO his will. Paul writes of the only solution to this ultimate issue of the reign of sin in the heart, and it concerns a change of authority under which we live. He writes to the Roman believers: “…Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (6:18) He will go on to write of Christ’s work on the cross, whereby the power of the authority of sin and the devil have been broken, and now replaced by a new authority, or Master. Christ, in accomplishing His work on Calvary, has provided ALL that is needful for the sinner to KNOW the truth concerning the saving work of God, the power necessary to rise from the dust, and death, to know the “freedom” of sins forgiven, washed away, and the power of a new, indwelling Life by the Spirit. Freedom in the sight of God is primarily a change of masters, means of living, and the manifestation of a new Life, that of God, of Christ, by the Spirit. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
What then are the great truths that God has revealed to us which He uses to set us free in the truest sense of the word, and to KEEP us free? The first truth has to do with WHO God IS, specifically who Christ is. When Isaiah had his great vision of God in the 6th chapter of his book, he wrote: “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” (6:1) Isaiah saw God as He was, is, and ever more shall be…sovereign in power and authority, wisdom and mercy. He saw Him holy also, unique, separate from sin and all that pertains to sinful man. And yet, he saw him as one who cleanses from sin entirely, and who intervenes in the lives of individuals to save and bless them. Essential to the concept of freedom is to see the ONE who alone has the power and authority to set us free from every form of slavery to sin, godlessness, and selfishness.
The second thing we need to see to BE free, and to be kept free, is that God delivers from the dominion of sin by the revelation of his TRUTH. Jesus told the Jews that believed on Him, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” (Jn. 8:32) We know from Paul’s writings that the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbeliever. We know also, from the beginning of the Scriptures, that Satan is a deceiver, a liar, and one who holds individuals and nations under his authority by hiding, or distorting the truth. Christ, on the other hand, unveils the truth of Himself and His ways to the soul, in order to work in response to faith, according to that truth.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see that the Lord Jesus has the supreme power and authority to save us according to the truth, by the Spirit…today and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad