"You Are Now Free to Go"

  “You are free to go now” After the Civil War, the slaves that were brought to America were pronounced ‘free’ but how many of them knew about that or acted upon their new status? In much the same way, I think Christians are set free, but, they are acting like they are still slaves of sin. Could it be because we are not informed of our freedom yet? Possibly. Or could it be because of habit? All our lives we were slaves of sin, now God’s word tells us we are free, but we are still in the mindset of the slave.

  There was a time when I really didn’t get the whole concept of being set free from anything. I thought Jesus died to take away my sin and now I could be forgiven for my sins. I didn’t realize that not only did Jesus die for my sins to pay for them, but the power of the Cross also sets us free from the bondage of sin. There is a difference between being aware of what sin is, and being in bondage to sin. It also protects us from the deception of sin. People today cannot only be forgiven of their sins, but they can also experience freedom from the bondage of sin. That is where many of us miss the boat, unfortunately. Part of that is because we don’t have a very full understanding of sin in our lives and the ramifications of our sins. We can have our eyes opened to see how great God is and how ugly our lies are. We can repent from lying because we know that it is wrong. But it is another thing to be set free from living a life where we feel like we have to lie and be deceptive. We have to identify the idols that are being supported by our lying. When our hearts are changed, we can be set free from the bondage of having to live with sin as our companion.

   Old habits are hard to break. Old mindsets are hard to change. You can condition a dog to behave a certain way. Let’s say that a person was cruel and had a dog. Let’s say that the cruel person kept the dog in a crate most of the time. Sometimes he would let the dog out. For a short time, the dog was delighted. It was out and it was free, so it thought, until the owner beat it. After a while, the dog would not want to come out anymore. He would know that he was going to be beaten again if he came back out. I think sin is like that. The Bible says that we are slaves to sin before our conversion. We enjoy sin for a season, but then the bad effects of sin come about. When we come to Christ in repentance and faith, the chains that held us down are broken, but do we realize it? Do we realize that now the tables are turned? Now we have the power to overcome sin.

   Through sanctification we learn to experience victory over sin and freedom from the bondages of sin. It doesn’t come overnight though. But it won’t come if we are not informed by the Word of God. If we are not studying the Bible and learning what God says to us, we will be uninformed of what is ours through the Cross. We will live in ignorance of the Power of God. Read the following words of the song called, ‘Praise the Lord’ by the Imperials:

Now Satan is a liar
And he wants to make us think
That we are paupers
When he knows himself
We're children of the King

If we don’t know what the Bibles says about our victory over sin and how we access it, we won’t live in victory. By default, we will listen to Satan and believe his lies about who he says we are (or aren’t).

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Romans 12:1,2 : I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.

Titus 2:11,12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

God gives us the power to say 'no' to sin, and 'yes' to righteousness. All this can happen because of what Jesus did on the Cross.

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