“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.“ [John 8:36]  

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you  will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“  [John 8:31b-32] 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there  is freedom.”  [II Corinthians 3:17]    

Freedom.  It means different things to different people, but what is this freedom that Jesus is talking about?  Many people think that the Christian walk is anything but freedom.  For example, in the Ten Commandments, aren’t they all about ‘Thou shalt not do this’ and ‘Thou shalt not do that’?    

Part of my understanding about freedom is that the believer is set free from the everyday worries of the big issues, such as crime, politics, AI, and even death, things that vex most of the people in the world.  We can revel in an inner peace: 

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:7] 

But does this freedom allow us to do anything and everything?  Let’s see how Paul the Apostle and Peter the Disciple addressed that thought: 

“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”  [Galatians 5:13]  

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”  [I Peter 2:16]  

Now I know what you’re thinking, being ‘servants of God’ doesn’t exactly sound like freedom.  But I’ve got a newsflash for you–humans do not call the shots.  We are either servants of God, or slaves to sin (Satan).  Two choices only.  Again, I’ll let Paul explain:  

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  [Romans 6:22-23]  

Breathe deep the gift of freedom God has provided in Jesus by setting us free from sin.  We can follow in the footsteps of David, if we so desire:    

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”  [Psalm 119:45]  

Blessings, 

Keith