In John 8:36 Jesus makes a wonderful statement of victory. He says, “So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” These are powerful, inspiring, empowering, and encouraging words and I want to issue you a big congratulations, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, because you are free. Having said that, I want to ask you, have you ever taken the time to consider what you are freed from?
In Greek the word ‘free’ can mean to liberate or to exempt from liability. That means the above passage of text could read whom the son liberates or exempts from liability will be really liberated and exempted from liability. Because of this definition, when you consider this verse in its full context, there are two conclusions I want you to consider. First, there are things Christ has freed you from. Second, there are things Christ has freed you to.
Let’s consider both sides of this coin because they are both critical to living the full and abundant life that Christ wants us all to live.
The ‘heads’ side of the coin reveals that we are freed from the bondage of sin. When we were born again, something beautiful happened – God gave us a new nature and more importantly filled us with His Holy Spirit so now we are no longer under the control of our sinful nature – we have been set free. Paul summed it up in 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
The ‘tails’ side of the coin reveals that we have the inalienable right to live. One of the reasons it’s so important to understand that you are free from the bondage, penalty and guilt of sin is because it now increases your capacity, through Jesus, to love, to have joy, to experience peace, and to enjoy life. God doesn’t want us holding on to our past guilt and shame. I love what Jesus said in John 10:10, “… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Here’s some more good news, the bonus side of that coin is that in Christ we have the freedom to serve. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Christ freed us so that we could accomplish God’s plan for our lives! He knew that it would difficult if not impossible to achieve this plan if we had to run around with a guilty conscience. We would be literally more focus on trying to prove ourselves or win the approval of others.
Lastly, the Webster defined freedom as the power or right to act, speak, or think without hindrance or restraint. This definition completely wraps up everything Christ has done for you and me. My brothers and sisters there is only one thing left for for us to do; LIVE!!! Paul said it best in Galatians 5:1, “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.”
Enjoy your freedom … live the life Christ has freed you to live.
4GIVEN 