Set Free

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| The Good News series |

• Set Free
• Peace with God
• How to Live Free From Sin

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What’s the Gospel?

When we read about Jesus, it’s incredible to see all He did in such a short time.  He healed so many, taught so many, and, ultimately, died for so many. But, for everything He did, what was the main point? Why was He here? He answered this question for us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) So, this is the good news, this is the gospel: He came to set us free. 

Slaves to Sin

But we aren’t slaves, so what is He talking about? The Jews of His day responded similarly: “‘We … have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.’” (John 8:33-34) Peter explains it this way when he warns about those who encourage others to sin, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19) That’s the thing about being slaves to sin; while we are, we don’t see it as slavery.  In fact, it can sound like freedom: “You get to do whatever you want”.  But like all cons, this deal steals the very thing it promises to give. (See Romans 6:20-23.)

Do you remember the words to that famous Rolling Stones song – “I can’t get no satisfaction”? The more that we indulge ourselves, the less we enjoy it. At some point, the enjoyment barely compensates us for the sorrow that floods our gut afterward.  If we decide it’s no longer what we want to do, we learn it’s become habitual to the point we can’t seem to stop.  We want to stop being harsh and impatient with our children or our spouse, but it all happens so fast.  We make plans to stop overeating but then anxiety overwhelms us. We decide we’re done indulging unhealthy sexual cravings, but when we have a spare moment they consume our thoughts. So, we’ve awoken to find that what was once a promise of freedom has, in fact, become our bondage and we cannot escape. Paul summarized it well when he said, “I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. … making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom 7:21-25)

Which Yoke?

Christ is the one who delivers us. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Now, let me take a step back because a yoke isn’t exactly familiar to us.  A yoke is a wooden harness that you place on a pair of animals so that they move together as one.  It’s an accurate description for this slavery to sin.  We are bound to our sinful cravings to the point that they start taking us down a road we don’t want to go.

So, what does this freedom that Christ gave us look like?  Are we free to do whatever we want? No, because we’ve seen how that is no freedom at all.  But, why isn’t it?  Because what we want is often not what is good for us.  Instead of what we want, we must put what He wants as our yoke (our guide), “for [His] yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:30). This works because He wants what’s good for us.  In fact, this word ‘easy’ also means ‘good’ in the original language. “We have no adjective in English that conveys this blend of being kind and good at the same time.” So it is that Christ is kind to us and good to us, leading us to desire what is good so that we might maintain the freedom that He’s given us.

Ready to Redeem

As Christians, we can fall back into this pattern of sin; we can “submit again to a yoke of slavery”.  So whether or not you’re a believer, you can find yourself trapped without feeling fulfilled, without hope for rescue.  I want to assure you that God has the desire and the power to set you free.  I don’t know if you’ve seen the recent movie ‘Harriet’, but it’s incredible.  One scene still stands out in my mind.  When it became more difficult to rescue slaves, the abolitionists were considering giving up.  Harriet launches into a moving speech which she finishes with, “I’ve heard their groans and sighs and seen their tears and I would give every last drop of blood in my veins to free them.”  What a picture of Christ! He did this very thing. He gave every last drop of blood to set us free.  He bought us with His blood. We no longer belong to sin, we are His.

He is ready to redeem us from our bondage to sin so that we are no longer condemned to a life of slavery. “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (Psalms 34:22) Now it makes no sense to set us free against our will.  Christ doesn’t force this freedom on any of us but has only extended the invitation.  Indeed, He is extending it now.  He’s extending it to those who believe that have found ourselves once again yoked to slavery.  He’s extending it to those who don’t yet believe but desire this freedom.

Next Week

Next week, I’d like to take this series one step further by showing that this liberty He gives us provides not only our freedom but peace with God.  Be sure to subscribe to our emails or follow us on social media so you don’t miss it!