Perspective:
Are We Free Indeed? John 8:36
Nelson Thomas Mumbai
It’s true that everybody values freedom and celebrates it. Generally, we oppose any form of oppression vehemently. Yet the scripture reminds us that one could be under spiritual bondage and be unaware of it.
Christ’s conversation with certain Jews who ‘believed’ in Him clearly reveals this fact, John 8:31–59. When He referred to the freedom they will experience as a result of knowing the truth, they objected to it.
They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" (John 8: 33).
It was an utter lie to claim that Abraham’s descendants have never been in bondage. They were under the bondage of many oppressors in the past, like Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, etc. Even during the days of Jesus Christ, they were ruled by Romans.
The Lord Jesus went on to explain and prove their slavery to sin and Satan:
Jesus answered them "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (v. 34)
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (v. 36)
"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.” (v. 37)
Their words and deeds amply testified that the wicked one dominated them. The word of God had no place in their lives. However, as the conversation progressed, they tried their best to claim their godly heritage, even a divine origin, v.41. Then the Lord Jesus revealed the most startling reality,
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (v. 44)
This further infuriated them. They called Him a ‘Samaritan and demon-possessed’, and finally, they picked up stones to throw at Him, vs 48, 59. That additionally proved beyond doubt how fiercely they were controlled by the wicked one.
A Challenging Example
The above-mentioned episode unequivocally exhorts everyone who claims to be ‘believers’ and ‘followers’ of Christ to examine their true status in the eyes of Christ. Assuming to be free yet being under spiritual oppression is deception both for self and to others. Do our words and actions exhibit what we claim to be? Are we free indeed?
It is not enough to have an intellectual knowledge and a vocal rendition of the spiritual freedom gospel offers. True experience and enjoyment of a believer’s liberty in the Lord Jesus must be visible in every aspect.
On the contrary, if one is habitually dominated by unscriptural, ungodly dispositions, he or she needs sincere introspection. A true born-again child of God can never continue to sin enjoying its passions and pleasure, 1 John 3:9. Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, he or she will feel the pain of conviction, subsequently repent, and be restored to the Lord.
Hypocrisy Unveiled
Sad to notice that many who claim to be God’s own children, holy and separated fail miserably in their practical lives. On one hand, they make speeches as an angel from heaven, on the other hand, they practice shamelessly a worldly way of life. Is it not hypocrisy at the worst, which the Lord Jesus denounced often?
Even a casual reading of the scripture teaches that a believer’s words, deeds, and attitude must be worthy of the Lord, not according to the pattern of the world outside. When this commitment to a godly way of life is missing, it’s wise to pay attention to the scriptural admonitions, as in our passage of consideration.
Many other New Testament passages refer to the possibility of false faith and assurance. Many believed in Jesus Christ seeing His miracles, but the Lord did not trust them, John 2:23–25. Later, some of His ‘disciples’ deserted Christ, denouncing His teaching (John 6:66). Apostle John later wrote about such deserters,
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1John 2:19).
Notice the words of Christ,
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matt 7: 21 – 23).
Examine Now
Paul’s admonition also is worth mentioning: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves,” (2 Cor. 13:5).
Let us not be deceived; all those who willingly sin, are in bondage of sin. Whomever we obey, his slaves we are. A man is the slave of anything that has conquered him (John 8:34; Rom 6:16; 2Pet 2:19).
Seriously and sincerely let’s examine, ‘Am I free indeed’? Consequently, before too late find true deliverance from the manifold bondages in which man could be trapped in.
Spiritual Bondages
Scripture speaks of several spiritual bondages man could be entangled in. Let us consider briefly some of those oppressions so that we may value the freedom we have in the Lord Jesus as well as, be away from such snares.
1. Bondage of Satan, Luke 13:16
Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, he has been controlled by Satan. Of course, Satan does it in various ways and forms. In Luke 13:10–16, we see the Lord heals a woman with a disabling spirit. He says that she was not just a patient, but “a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years”. (cf. Mark 5: 8, 9; 2Tim 2:16).
2.Bondage of sin, John 8:34
Sin, as a tough master, controls man, and the wage paid by sin is death (Rom 6: 6, 17, 18, 20, and 23). Yes, sin always promises freedom and pleasure (2 Peter 2:19). Only at the convicting work of the Holy Spirit does one realize the ugliness and burden of sin (Rom 7:24).
3. Bondage of legalism, Gal 3:13; Rom 8:2
The God-given law was abused and adulterated. God’s holy requirements were given as a mirror and a guardian (James 1:22–25; Gala 4:1–5). The intention was to bring conviction of their sins and challenge them to seek the Saviour.
But by misinterpretation and adding man-made traditions, the law became a yoke, to control fellow-beings like an animal (Mark 7:8, 9; Gal 5:1; Acts 15:10). Moreover, it’s bondage to cling on to the shadow when the reality is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:1; Colo. 2:16, 17).
4. Bondage of man, 1Cor 7:23
Sinful man wants to dominate his fellow-being, (Mark 10:42; 3 John v.9). The weak among men tend to fear the strong. So, many try to please man more than God. They think it is easier to say ‘no’ to God than to man. Such fear of man is a snare that hinders one from being a true servant of Christ, Prov. 29:25; Gal. 1:10.
5.Bondage of materialism, Matt. 6:25, 31
Several people are obsessed with themselves and their needs, like what to wear, eat, drink, etc. This addiction to things and devices leads to untold psychological oppressions, like anxiety, worry, jealousy, etc., 1 Tim 6:10
6. Bondage of the past, Phil 3:13
Too many are haunted by the past, like disappointments, wrong decisions, and other painful experiences. They are unable to forgive themselves or others. Remembering those hurting moments and the people who inflicted these upon them, their mind is filled with anger, grudge, and self-pity. It’s also mental bondage, taking away the joy and peace of man.
7. Bondage of fear of death, Heb. 2:15
Another burden that sinful man faces is the dread of dying, because he does not know what is beyond death. So, both the unfortunate past and the uncertain future keep man in bondage.
Freedom – Messiah’s Mission
Praise be to God! As far as a born-again believer is concerned, he has freedom from all these satanic traps in the Lord Jesus Christ. The very purpose of Christ’s incarnation was the liberation of man from his bondages (Luke 4:18, 19; cf. Isa. 61:1).
He fulfilled the demands of the Law, and defeated the wicked one by His death on the cross. Now, no one needs to be under the bondage of the evil forces (cf. John 8:36; Rom. 6:6, 7, 18; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Heb. 2:14, 15; 1 Peter 1:18 etc.).
Can a believer be under any bondage again?
Apostle Paul’s warning to Galatians is noteworthy,
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1).
“Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery” (Gal 2:4).
He makes it very clear that if believers are not careful, they will be entangled again in bondage. There is someone secretly looking for an opportunity to bring believers back into bondage. Is it contrary to the security of salvation the New Testament teaches? No, not at all.
Security of Salvation
The Lord Jesus repeatedly referred to the believer’s eternal security (cf. John 5:24; 6:47; 10:28, 29 etc.). Anyone who repents and trusts the atoning work of Christ is forgiven and saved once and for all (Heb. 10:12, 14). Satan can never take away our salvation, nor can he possess a true born-again believer.
Not only Christ saves us by grace, He keeps us too by grace, Tit. 2:11–14; Jude v. 24. This is not based on our feelings but on the word of God. Ultimately, the security of salvation emanates from our position in Christ (Eph 5:30).
However, the enjoyment of our position in the Lord Jesus Christ depends upon our obedience and faithfulness. It is in this aspect that Paul warns the Galatians of the possibility of being entangled in bondage again.
There are plenty of New Testament passages that warn saints against such devices of the evil forces (2 Cor 2:11; 1 Cor 7:5; Eph 4: 27; 6: 11, 12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; etc.). If we allow it, our enemy can disturb the enjoyment of our spiritual freedom and make our life miserable.
Satanic Traps
1. Bondage of sin, Rom 6:12, 14
“Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts… For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
If we permit, sin is more than happy to reign in our bodies. Because sin always longs to control man (Gen 4:7). Anyone who willingly yields to sin proves his slavery to sin. Of course, a born-again child of God is conscious of the diabolic acts of the enemy, and he will never continue to serve sin (1 John 3:9).
But often, as someone suggested, “sin enters as a guest then becomes a friend; you get to know each other and like each other - then becomes a servant. It promises to serve you and to give pleasure. But servant becomes a master and that master becomes a tyrant and that dictator becomes a destroyer.”
Let us be aware of the subtlety of sin and be conscious of sins that easily entangle us (Heb. 12: 1). Never take sin casually, for it leads to bondage again. Often, we are vigilant about certain sins, but neglect sins like evil attitudes and disobedience. Both, sins of commission as well as sins of omission are serious flaws before the holy God.
2. Bondage of man, Gal 1:10
Fear of man always hinders a consistent Christian life (Pro. 29:25; John 5:44; 12: 42, 43). We may be tempted to please man more than God, especially when carnal men will try to dominate and control even godly people (Gala 2: 11, 12; 3John v.9). Apostle Peter puts it well, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1Peter 2:17).
3. Bondage of legalism, Gal 5:1; Acts 15:10, 28
Paul’s warnings in the book of Galatians are in this context. Judaizers wanted the believers from gentile backgrounds to follow the Mosaic rituals apart from faith in Christ. Apostles and elders dealt with the issue immediately and declared it was a burden.
Even today many think they are spiritual only when strictly following certain man-made traditions. Such observances of human preferences - even if with a good intention - thinking, that makes them holier than others is a yoke. We should not be enslaved again to human ideologies and assumptions (Colo 2:16–18, 21).
4. Bondage of self, Mat 6:25, 31
The most common and least bothered bondage of many today is an obsession with self. They are always focused on their comfort and fulfilment of desires and needs. They spend more time thinking and devising ways to impress others and achieve their goals.
Such self-centered ones are plagued with a lot of emotional struggles and oppressions like:
i. Worry, anxiety, tension, etc. (cf. Matt 6: 25, 27, 31, 32; Phil 4:6).
ii. Regret over the past failures, disappointments, wrong steps, etc. (Phil 3:13).
iii. Fear of present and future.
iv. Inferiority complex and victim feeling.
v. Superiority complex and pride.
Self-centered ones easily hurt themselves and others. They argue and fight over simple things. It affects their social and interpersonal relationship.
Yes, there are many more such slaveries with which the enemy may trap a believer. Only through constant study of God’s word and internal transformation one can escape these practical enslavements.
How to escape enslavement again?
Our salvation is by God’s grace through faith, but its practical enjoyment and fruitfulness depend upon our faithful obedience to the Lord. Let us consider very briefly 5 essentials, to keep on experiencing the freedom that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Abide in Christ, because it is He who delivers us, John 8:36; 15:4.
2. Know the truth, John 8:32. Ignorance keeps us in servitude, knowledge liberates us, (cf. John 17:17; 2Timo 2:25, 26; Isa 5:13; Hos 4:6). Know and experience our position and privileges in Christ. Abide in His word, John 8:31; Psa. 119: 44, 45.
3. Obey the truth, Rom 6:17, 18. Mere awareness is not enough, act on it. It is when we obey God’s word we get further enlightenment, John 7:17.
4. Yield to the Holy Spirit, 2 Cor 3:17. The Spirit of God continues to reveal divine truths and empowers us to put it into practice, John 16:13; Gal 5:10.
5. Present ourselves to God, Rom 6:13, 20. True freedom is the freedom to live in God’s perfect will. So, when we reckon ourselves to be bond-slaves of Christ, we experience freedom in its reality, 1Cor 7:22. Be under the yoke of Christ which is easy and His burden which is light, Matt 11:28.
Any failure in these areas would lead to bondage under another yoke. Let’s constantly examine our position regarding these five basic requirements and keep on enjoying our freedom in the Lord.
Freedom and Restrictions, Gal 5:13; 1Peter 2:16
Have you considered the difference between a river and a swamp? The river is confined between banks, whereas the swamp is not. Because the river is restricted on both sides, water flows freely and forcefully, which makes it lively. Because swamp has no boundaries or restrictions; therefore, it’s thin and stagnant.
Today, in the name of freedom we want to break all restrictions. We forget that such a life could be stagnant and stinky.
Abuse of freedom is phenomenal worldwide. In the name of personal liberty, people do whatever they like to do, disregarding the moral and spiritual implications. The result is a new generation with confused values and moral standards.
Whether political or spiritual, any freedom is not actually to do anything, but to do the right and live under the rule. As far as a believer is concerned, he is a slave to God, Rom. 6:18, 22. When the Corinthian believers were copying this worldly way of life under the slogan, “all things are lawful for me”, Paul presented to them six boundaries that could help them in their free life in Christ.
1. Be away from people whose life is a dishonor to Christ, 1Cor 5:11 cf. 2Thes 3:6; Tit 3:10; 2John vs. 9 – 11.
2. Be away from the lifestyle of natural as well as carnal men, 1 Cor 3:3. Living according to the passions of the flesh is forbidden for the saints, Eph 4:17–19; 1 Peter 1:14.
3. Be away from anything that will harm us – physically, mentally, and spiritually, 1 Cor. 6:18–20.
4. Be away from anything that will trouble a fellow believer, 1 Cor. 8:13, 16; 10:12. Remember, there are occasions when even what seems right and legitimate, are not good for a follower of Christ!
5. Be away from anything that will affect our trust in the Lord, 1 Cor 10:23. Wasting our time, energy, and resources for anything that is not edifying is forbidden for a believer (Heb 11:24–26).
6. Be away from anything that will hinder us in glorifying God, 1 Cor 10:31. Before any action, there is only one question we have to ask, ‘Can I do it for God’s glory?’
Of course, there are much more similar instructions found in the word of God that set a limit on our lives. A child of God who constantly searches scriptures and endeavors to live under the boundaries set by God will be lively and fruitful.
NTK
