Month: June 2019

“Freedom is a powerful word, full-of all-sorts of meaning to different people. Some people think freedom refers to political liberty, such as we have in the United States under the constitution. Others think freedom means being able to do whatever one wants morally. Some even think freedom means doing whatever one wants, regardless of the rule of law. 

However, authentic freedom is based on the word of God and the work of His Son Jesus Christ! In John 8:36, Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” One becomes free indeed by knowing the truth (John 8:32; 17:17) and obeying the truth (Matt. 7:21-o 27). This authentic freedom Christ offers is composed of three facets: 

1. Freedom from the burdens of life! In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says the sinner is “heavy laden.” Jesus tells us to bring that burden to Him. Hebrews 12:1 says to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” Jesus can free us from those weights, as well as the burden of false religion and traditions of men (Matt. 23:3-4). 

2. Freedom from bondage to sin! The Jews that Jesus was speaking to in John 8 were not only in bondage to the law and to the traditions of men, but they were also in bondage to sin (John 8:44). Christ not only could free them from the law (Col. 2:14), but also from the guilt of sin (Rom. 3:23-26). 

3. Freedom from blindness! Jesus could open their eyes to the truth, if they so desired (John 8:32). Once one recognizes the power and importance of God’s word, he no longer has to worried about being fooled by the false doctrines of men (Eph. 4:14), if he will continue in the things God teaches in His word. Paul’s mission to the Gentiles was to “open their eyes” (Acts 26:18) So while we celebrate our political and social freedom on July 4th, let us also focus on and remember our spiritual freedom that comes only through Christ Jesus! He frees us from the burdens of life, from bondage to sin, and from blindness! Are you free indeed? 

In 1 Samuel 1-5 we find the corrupt sons of Eli, priests, unwilling to heed their father’s instructions. They cause the children of Israel to despise the sacrifices of the Lord. Then the Philistines slaughter the Israeli army and carry off the Ark of the Covenant. In the midst of all this God is still faithful to fulfill His will, keep His promises, and He providentially raises up Samuel to be a prophet and a priest.

Then, in chapters 6-10, Israel, who has never been satisfied with the leadership and awesome power of the Lord, desires an earthly king to rule over them. He had guided them out of bondage and into the Promised Land. He had set over them righteous representatives to lead them (Moses, Joshua, the Judges, and now Samuel), yet they continued to rebel. Now they want a king like the nations around them.

Let me posit this question, “Whose side are we on?” If not on the Lord’s side we are His enemy. But He will conquer and every enemy defeated (Matthew 11:30). “Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).

While we are often hard on the children of Israel maybe God is trying to get us to see our own nature. He has provided us with divine, kingly leadership in His Son. But that isn’t good enough for most people. He is King of kings and Lord of lords! Will you allow Him to rule your life. Here’s a test… have you and are you obedient to and subject to Him?

That transformation which occurs when one becomes a Christian is so remarkable. The apostle Paul emphasized this to those new Christians in Corinth. In his second letter to that church he spoke of all he was in Judaism before becoming a follower of Jesus. No one excelled his credentials, yet he gave it all up. He reminded them of this truth and then applied this transformation to all Christians. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). 

 The old guilt of sin had passed away. Under that Old Testament law, every year there was that Day of Atonement (modern Jews call it Yom Kippur) when God remembered the nation’s sins, and His displeasure was “satisfied by the offering of animal sacrifices. It was a religion which easily created guilt for there was no real forgiveness. When one becomes a Christian God “remembers their sins no more” (Jer. 31:34). 

 What Has Become New? Under the New Testament all of this had changed. There is now freedom of choice. The old law was a yoke of bondage (Acts 15:10), but Jesus’ new law is easy and light (Matt. 11:30). There is now eternal forgiveness-God no longer remembers our sins because Christ has become our eternal, atoning sacrifice. There is now a new relationship with God-Jesus’ model prayer begins, “Our Father who is in heaven.” John said it this way, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God” (1 John3:). 

 What has become new? Paul’s answer is “all things have become new.”  

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land'” Jeremiah 17:5-6).

My grandfather worked as a truck driver emptying salt water from oil tanks in west Texas. The water was hauled off and disposed so that the land would not be destroyed. One time, we drove through an area of land that looked like it had been bleached. I asked, “What happened here?” The reply: “A salt water spill.” Sometimes the salt water would leak out of the oil tanks. It left a barren patch of dirt on which nothing would grow killing everything

Jeremiah’s description of a person who trusts in mankind alone reminds me of these barren patches of land. The ultimate abode of a person who only trusts in the wisdom of man is isolation, loneliness, depression, and an empty life. It is when we trust in God first that life becomes a rich panorama of colorful seasons filled with fruit and gladness. God makes real fellowship with others possible. He is the basis upon which we have successful relationships with others. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 22:37-40). Let us be diligent to love God and to love our neighbor to reap the abundant life (John 10:10).