’d imagine you have sung it yourself at some point in your Christian experience...
“I’m so glad that Jesus set me free...I’m so glad...that Jesus set me free. I’m so glad, that Jesus set me free...singing ‘Glory Halleluiah’, Jesus set me free.”
It’s pretty hard to sing that without clapping your hands, tapping those feet and even getting a little ‘sway’ action going. :- ). You almost have to wonder why the whole congregation does not erupt into demonstrative expression during that song unless...just maybe...some of the folks singing that have yet...to be set free? That would be a awkward song to sing if still bound in chains.
So here’s a question for you: Just what did Jesus set you free from?
Now just wait a second there...let’s think about it...
What. Did. You. Get. Set. Free. From?
(This is REALLY important to know!)
Some of you may have whispered to yourself: ‘the penalty of sin?’
Actually, that would be an incorrect answer because sin still has a penalty – ‘Death’. (Rom. 6:23)
There’s a ‘death penalty’ for sinning? I know...sounds so serious... But, that is what the word says. (Ezek. 18:20)
Granted, we ALL have sinned...and fell short of God’s glory and expectations (Rom. 3:23) which is why we were ALL dead in our sins and trespasses. (Eph 2:1)
So what about all our past sins or ‘debt’...were we not set free from that? That’s a good point and scripture does affirm that we are forgiven of all those past sins, which reminds me of another song about how ‘we had a debt we could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe’. But yes, when a person truly repents and surrenders their life to Christ, all their past sins are forgiven totally.
I liken that to a person who ran up so much credit card debt, and with the mounting interest, there was not a chance they would ever be able to pay it off. Then some wealthy person stepped in and wrote out a single check making all their debt go away at the stroke of a pen. Yeah...that would get me clapping and dancing too.
But that is not what Jesus set us free from. Perhaps visiting the passage where we even get this verbiage about being “set free” might offer a clear answer. It’s in John 8:31-36
Jesus was talking to some Jews who actually believed in Him. He first tells them “IF...you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (sounds like a condition there to me). Then He tells them “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (32)
This next verse is a gem. They immediately respond how they are descendants of Abraham and that “We have never been in bondage to anyone!” Really now?!? (Go read Deut. 5:15 real quick and smile...lol...how quickly we forget)
But it’s verse 34 that we need to underline. “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is slave to sin.”
Now let’s just stop there a moment and may I remind you what Jesus said in Matt. 12:37: “for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned.”
When you openly admit or confess with just about every other ‘believer’ out there that you ‘sin daily’ or ‘all the time’...offering up the familiar line about ‘not being perfect, just forgiven’ because you are still a ‘sinner saved by grace’ or a ‘saint who sins’.... No matter how you spin that, you are, in the eyes/words of Jesus still...a ‘slave to sin’.
Go back and read John 8:34 again...Did Jesus not declare ‘assuredly’ that ‘whoever commits sin is a slave to sin’? Guess what...a ‘slave’ is not considered to be one who is ‘free’.
Need to chew on this a minute? Might even help to go back and read those last three paragraphs aloud again.
If...you continue to keep on sinning...you remain a ‘slave to sin’. His words, not mine. He goes on: “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” (35). It would seem Jesus is drawing a line in the sand and making a clear distinction between a ‘slave’ and a ‘son’, and that someone who sins...is a slave and ‘abiding forever in the house’ does not seem to be in that person’s future. But now a ‘son’ abides forever, according to Jesus. Again, His words, not mine.
Remember, we read in Rom. 6:23 that sin STILL has a penalty and it’s death. That has never changed. So look at Romans 6:22 and Paul just tells us plainly what we were set free from- “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God....”.
That whole chapter is pretty rich....as he brings out some bold statements like “We died to sin, how can you live in it any longer?” (2) and “we should no longer be slaves of sin for he who has died has been freed from sin” (7-8) and “though you WERE slaves of sin, you obeyed from your heart...and having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”. (17-18)
Would you please turn to 1 John 3. Since Jesus makes a distinction between a ‘slave’ and a ‘son’, let’s see if we gain more insight as to how one can tell the difference. A son or ‘child’ of God would be one who has been ‘born of God’ or ‘born again, yes? We know John told us in John 1 that ‘as many as received Him He gave us the right or power to BECOME children of God’ (1:12). So now read 1 John 3:9 – “whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (pssst- read that last line again)
Now you might go back a few verses and look at (6) – “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
Now flip back to chapter 2 and look at vs. 4- “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”
We know that sin still has a penalty and that penalty is death. Romans 8:13 says “If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body (flesh nature), you will live.”
And you want to see who the real children of God are? The very next verse tells us: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons/children of God.” Are You being led by His Spirit? How do you know?
Children of God (those who are led by His Spirit) no longer continue to sin...because Jesus set them free from sin.
IF any of this is beginning to sink in and resonate with you, it’s possible you are asking yourself “Then why do I/we keep on sinning?”
And THAT...is the $64,000 question that even God is asking us! “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, “Lord...” but he who does the will of my Father in heaven...many will come in that day...and I will tell them...I never knew you...depart from Me...you who practice lawlessness ( continue to sin) (Matt. 7:21-23)
In the past recent years, there has been a growing interest in these ancestry DNA test where you send off specimens and then get results back in the mail. You probably have read/heard some of the many dramatic stories that have evolved from those results. Lots of folks finding out they are ‘not who they thought they were’. For many, it has ushered in much pain and horror and confusion to discover the ‘truth’ of who you are. For others, it has brought great excitement and rejoicing to be able to reconnect with ‘blood’ family. I’m sure there has been a good number of people who just could not accept the results of those test and crumpled them up in a wad before tossing it in the trash while muttering a string of choice words as they head out the door and resume their life as usual.
I would also imagine that today while reading this post, some of you may have reacted in a similar way perhaps?...rolling your eyes and calling this a bunch of gibberish and foolishness and crazy doctrine. Yet...others who have read with an open heart may have sensed a deep stirring of the soul and something sobering has reverberated through you - simply from reading God’s word right there in front of you. It is also quite possible that as the reality of what you read has opened your eyes, you may actually begin experiencing what I spent the last two days writing about...the ‘fear of God’. If that is the case, this would be a good time to RUN to Him and receive His mercy and grace. James 4:6-10 should encourage you greatly. Oh...and do enjoy the getting re-acquainted with your ‘real’ Father again. :- )
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