The Hope of Freedom

Freedom! What a wonderful word to us. We all value freedom highly. We delight in being free. We long to live in freedom always.

One of the most powerful and recurring themes in the New Testament is that Christians are free in Christ Jesus. This was especially good news to the Christians who first received this teaching from the apostles since many of the first believers throughout the Roman Empire were officially classified as slaves. The freedom that the apostles spoke about; however, was not a political freedom but, rather, a spiritual one. They spoke of an inner freedom that allows a person to live above his present circumstances instead of being stretched out under them.(Stanley)

This is a freedom that is no less important in our world today, when many people feel trapped in sinful patterns and destructive behaviors.

·                    Some are stuck in the bondage of addictions and sinful habit patterns.

·                    Some struggle regularly with thoughts of depression and deep dark despair.

·                    Some live daily in abusive relationships longing for positive change and contemplating running away.

·                    And others experience oppressive situations, which have their root in satanic influences. (Stanley)

Scripture clearly states how sin can literally fill a person’s life to the extremes of enslavement, constant control and spiritual bondage. Notice the words of the wise Apostle Paul in Romans 1:29-32,

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The phrase “Being filled” refers to the things Paul specifies as common practices among humanity. When this is the case the entire pattern of evil becomes the lifestyle of these enslaved souls. They continually or habitually act out these very things in open defiance of God.  

Yes, “Being filled” is a very strong phrase then; it has the idea of an engrossing process. That is, these rebellious actions are so often practiced that it is safe to say the individuals are full of them. Actually, we still use similar phrases in certain parts of the country. We may say ‘He is ‘full of mischief,’ ‘full of deceit,’ and ‘full of the devil’ etc. Likewise Paul was describing people who were full of these sins, and not merely an occasional dabbling in them. The idea is of one who is trained and controlled by certain sins. They have little or no control over their lives.... Real human beings have been reduced to sin slaves.

Such extreme forms of human rebellion against God fully deserve God’s condemnation and judgment. These words “Being Filled” are the same words used in Eph. 5:18 where the Believer is commanded to “be filled with the Spirit.” These enslaved souls are constantly subject to their lower passions. Is there any hope?

The world system in which we live is not a godly construct, but we each must experience the freedom that Christ offers to us so that we can live in this world, yet not be “of” this world. Christ prayed earnestly that we Believers would not become enslaved and influenced by the evil present in the world system that we all are familiar with. Read carefully His prayer in John 17:14-17,

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  

Our Lord’s desire for us Believers is to be free of worldliness and the evils of our time. He cried out to His Father for our sanctification. He wants a people who are “set apart” unto God’s plan, purpose, and pleasure. It is the “truth” that is to sanctify and make us free of sin's dominance! The more sanctified unto God we are the more liberty and freedom from sin's enslavement we will experience. The more we embrace and live by the truth, the more God's brand of freedom is reigning in our lives.

Consider carefully this insightful statement by Bible teacher Max Anders, 

... Sin is bad because it destroys the sinner. All sin boomerangs and strikes a lethal blow to the very one who throws it. In Proverbs 14:1 we read, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” She does not pull it down purposely; she does not want to pull down the house. But she insists on her foolishness, and the house collapses as a consequence. Sin boomerangs.
Again, in Proverbs we read, “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” (Prov. 6:32). The person does not want to destroy his own soul. He just wants to commit adultery. But with the adultery comes the destruction of his soul. Sin boomerangs.
The adulterer destroys his home, the homosexual contracts AIDS, the thief is arrested, the angry person loses his job, the lazy person cannot make ends meet, the materialistic person files bankruptcy, the hypocritical person loses the respect of his children, the alcoholic dies of liver disease, and on and on it goes. Sin boomerangs. Sin damages and eventually destroys the sinner.

To any person who feels as if he or she is in the clutches of something negative or evil, God extends to you words of hope and freedom, “God wants to set you free!” Notice again Paul’s words in Romans 6:18, where he says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Then look at Romans 6:22, which says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Did you notice the statement “free from sin” in both verses? That is correct; genuine Believers are free from sin’s control!

The basis of our freedom is of course our union and identification with Jesus Christ. Because Christ is free, we likewise are free in Him. Just as the Lord Jesus has no obligations to sin, we also are free from sin's penalty and power. Christ broke the power and dominance of sin for every Believer through His death and resurrection. Since we are united to Him we enjoy His freedom and power. Each of us Believers must consciously appropriate this spiritual reality to ourselves. We must count on this truth to personally experience freedom. It is vital that we deposit this valuable truth in our spiritual bank account. Standing on this promise will definitely enrich our experience of spiritual freedom. Beloved, this is the holy liberty every child of God needs to become well acquainted with for daily life. Yes, the hope of freedom is yours. Seize it today! Throw off the shackles of enslavement, and embrace the power of freedom in Christ Jesus!