John was sitting in Susan’s lap this particular Sunday morning as Joe, the teacher, was sharing of the freedom God has given his children. “We are free; we are free,” he said. John turned to Susan and whispered, “I’m not free, I’m four.”
I wonder if God thinks we are just as confused sometimes. We may forget; we may not understand; we simply may not believe… but God’s great desire is that we walk with him in freedom. From the day sin came into the world, he put a plan into process that would release us from the grip of sin and the condemnation of the evil one who hates freedom. In his wisdom, God established his law through Moses knowing that even a perfect law could never bring true freedom. The law would simply prove that we could never live the holy life that we should. All God’s plans led Christ, who did live a holy life before purchasing us through his blood. Jesus knows all about freedom and the Holy Spirit will teach and empower us as we humble ourselves and become like children.
Words of Jesus:
“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… 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)
Words of Jesus’ servant:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… 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… So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5)
“What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come… Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3)
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness… 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)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8)