Free Indeed!

Free Indeed! Little did the Jewish people realize that they were under the bondage of sin. The very suggestion by Jesus brought an indignant response.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(John 8:31-36, King James Version)

Bondage! The Jews were indignant when Jesus suggested they were in bondage. "How can we be in bondage when we are the children of Abraham? We have never been in bondage to any man?"

What was Jesus' reply? "You are in bondage to sin."

Can the same be said about people today? Yes! Only in Christ is there freedom from sin. Does that mean we stop sinning when we become a Christian? Oh, how I wish that were true! How, then, are we free in Christ?

One of the first changes a new Christian will notice is their desire to flee from sin. It often seems that the closer one gets to the Lord, the more one sins. The truth is, however, that as one grows in Christ one becomes more sensitive to the sin in their own life.

How is that freedom? Our freedom in Christ is two-fold. First, as a Christian, we have an advocate in Christ who intercedes on our behalf. So, though we may struggle with sin, it can no longer defeat us. Second, the wages of sin is death. Christ, through His death on the cross, has set us free from the penalty of death. Through Christ, we have life everlasting.

The amazing thing is not just that we have eternal life, but when we meet our Lord in Glory, we will no longer be creatures of sin. The final chains of sin will have been crushed.

What a wonderful promise. Take that thought with you this day.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Next: Our Father - John 8:37-44