People of India celebrated 64th day of independence on 15th August. Every citizen of this country is proud of the freedom they enjoy in this land. When we compare the condition of certain nations, we understand that we have much liberty, especially to worship and express our thoughts.
As Christians we do praise God for such freedom to practice and propagate our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to pray that it may continue, for we do see certain forces are trying their level best to curtail the freedom that our constitution guarantees.
At this occasion it will be good to consider the spiritual freedom we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe a Christian believer is the only one who truly enjoys freedom in all its fullness.
Free
yet in bondage
A
country may be politically free yet the individuals may not
be free in every aspect. They are not able to enjoy their life and live as they
want to. Even if they know of an ideal path of life, they fail to reach that
level. Bondage to self, bad habits, tradition and even the past failures haunt
them. Some are bound to prejudices and superstitions. But the most dangerous and
basic of all oppressions is man’s slavery to sin and Satan. Rom 6:20; John 8:34.
Every other form of bondage stems out of sin’s dominion in one’s life.
It is from such terrible spiritual bondage Christ has
liberated us. “You shall know the
truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” “If the Son makes you free, you shall
be free indeed.” John 8:32, 36.
Freedom through the Son
As we confess our sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as
our saviour and Lord, we begin to experience inexpressible freedom. Forgiveness
of sins and the cleansing of its mark from our conscience take away the burden
of sin and its consequences.
However do we really experience the spiritual freedom that we
ought to have enjoyed? Often the truth is, though we know much about our
privileges in Christ; we fail to enjoy it fully, including our liberty. Still
tiny bindings are found.
Ensnaring sins
The evil one succeeds in taking control of us using our flesh
or the world. Because of our casual approach to spiritual life, sin easily
ensnares us often with out even our knowledge! Cf. Heb
12:1. Some one has said, “Sin enters as a guest, then sin becomes a friend – you
get to know each other and like each other. Then sin becomes a servant. It
promises to serve you and to give you pleasure. But that servant becomes a
master and that master becomes tyrant and that dictator becomes a destroyer.”
And the result is absence of freedom in our attitude and
actions. Any body can discover such bondage through our behaviour and response
to people or events.
Freedom of slavery!
As Christians, how can we enjoy true spiritual freedom? The
answer is simple. Paul elaborates it in Romans ch. 6. “Do you not know that to
whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, your are that one’s slaves whom you
obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
…..For just as you presented your members as slaves of
uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your
members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. ……now having been set
free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness,
and the end, everlasting life.” (emphasis added) Romans 6: 16—22.
Paul’s point is this: to enjoy true Christian freedom
we must be slaves to God. Cf. 1Peter 2:16. Just as we yielded to sin before
conversion, we need to purposefully and wholeheartedly yield to the Lord. Yes,
that’s where we fail. Freedom is not lawlessness. True freedom comes from being
submissive to the Lord and His will in our life. The more we know and obey
Christ and His word the more freedom we shall experience. Cf. John 8:32, 36.
Then there is joy, peace, and freedom. It will be reflected in our words and
deeds as well.
Do you enjoy true spiritual freedom? Let us be free, truly,
exhibiting the joy and simplicity in Christ Jesus.
