TRUE FREEDOM

    So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

                Tomorrow, July 4, is Independence Day in America. It is the day we celebrate our independence from England and the birth of our nation. At the heart of our national celebration is the concept of freedom; political freedom, religious freedom, personal freedom. We pride ourselves on being a free nation, where people can live in peace, free to be who they want to be. So what does it mean to be free?

                On the most basic level, freedom means living without oppression. It is the ability to make personal choices, without repercussions from a dominating government. It means being able to live without fear. It means having the ability to set the course of life in ways that fit the individual person.

                For many people, freedom means being able to do whatever they desire, without restrictions. There is a thin line between liberty and license. Freedom without boundaries is anarchy. Freedom without responsibility leads to chaos. Freedom without law is survival of the fittest.

                Paul warns us to be careful how we use our freedom. Our freedom can be positive and constructive, but it can also be negative and destructive. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23) Freedom for freedom’s sake is a dangerous thing. True freedom must be channeled in the right way.  You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

                Jesus addressed the issue of our freedom in John 8. He made it clear that freedom without restraint is really slavery to sin. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34) Like a drug addict, a person who continually indulges in sinful activities soon loses the ability to say no. They become more and more enslaved, so that their life no longer is under their control.

                Jesus came to truly set us free from the power of sin. Many people scoff at this idea. They think that all religion does is restrict us and take away our fun and freedom. True faith in Christ does the exact opposite. It frees us to be all that God created us to be.

- Faith is Christ frees us from condemnation.

                Freely indulging our sinful nature leads to judgment and condemnation. This is true both in this life and in the life to come. In Christ, we no longer have to live under the cloud of judgment. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1

- Faith is Christ frees us from guilt.

                When we live without boundaries or restraint, we also live with guilt. Indulgence comes with a price. The morning after is often filled with feelings of guilt. Over time these guilt feeling may subside, but in our hearts we know that the path we are taking is not right. In Christ, our sin is forgiven and we are set free from nagging, unabated guilt. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

- Faith in Christ frees us to genuinely love one another.

                For many people, love is a game of give and take. It is conditional, illusive and often disappointing. Many people are afraid to love, because they have gotten hurt in the past. Love has been reduced to an emotion that can quickly evaporate. Jesus loves us unconditionally. His love is constant, genuine and never ending. Because of His love for us, we are free to love others freely. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)

- Faith in Christ frees us to experience life to the full.

                Life, for many people, is a very limited experience. They see life only through the eyes of temporary physical pleasures. These pleasures often lead to disappointment and regret. There is so much more to life than that. When we put our faith in Christ, He opens our eyes and our hearts to embrace and experience the full breath of the beauty, delight and enjoyment of life.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)

- Faith in Christ frees us from the fear of death.

                The ultimate fear that we all face is the fear of death. In America, we spend our lives running away from death. But death is inevitable. In Christ, we do not have to fear death. We are secure, in Him, for all of eternity. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

                Tomorrow we will celebrate our political freedom, but for those of us who have put our faith in Christ, we can celebrate an even greater freedom. We have a freedom that can never be taken away, a freedom that allows us to truly experience life to the full, a freedom that transcends the circumstances of life. We have been set free from our slavery to sin and enfolded in the very life of God.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17