Set Free

Set Free

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.
Romans 8:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

Do you know what it is like to be free from something? When I think of freedom, I think of slaves in the US or Jews and Polish people being released from concentration camps at the end of WWII. But I also think of women and children coming out of homes that only meant pain and degradation. My mind thinks of the redeemed homeless and those that get a reprieve from emotional or mental instability. I think of those that have been freed from addictions.

Just like there is slavery to be liberated from in this world, there is also a sin-slavery. In my mind, sin is, more than anything else, our living in opposition to the life God has designed and sanctioned. And those of us that have accepted God’s offer to eradicate our sin condition (that which is found in Christ alone) then we are indeed emancipated. For the scripture says that those the son sets free are free indeed. Freed from what? Free from a sin conviction that results in a permanent separation from God.

If you knew you were unequivocally free, what would you do with your new freedom? If you knew for sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt that you would not get a guilty conviction on your sin infractions, would you sin more because you were free? Would you get even with those that have hurt you? Would you take a walk on the wild side?

Now I will say something that might make some angry. If you aren’t free to commit sin, free to “walk on the wild side”, then it is no freedom at all. If we aren’t free to destroy ourselves, then it is no freedom at all and that indeed is the choice that some make. However, keep in mind that this verse does not say you are free from consequences. There is no mention of freedom of chastisement.

Think about this. I once heard a man speaking on freedom and of all things, he mentioned Abraham Lincoln. He said that Lincoln purchased a slave and immediately had her shackles removed. He told her she was free. The newly freed slave asked what free meant. He told her that you are a "free person". She asked, “I can do whatever I want?”
He nodded his head.
“You mean I can go where ever I want?”
Lincoln chuckled and said, “Yeah, you can go where you want.”
The girl thought for a moment and said, "I want to be with you.”
“You can go anywhere. Why would you want to follow me?"
"Cause I wanna be wit' the one who set me free."