Declaration Of Freedom!

We should appreciate the freedoms we have. However, with freedom there is the need to remember who has provide it and at what cost, as well as recognizing the responsibility that goes along with that freedom. This is true when we think about the freedoms enjoyed in this country. It is also true relative to living as citizens of God’s kingdom ( Philippians 3:20) which is even more worthy of our continuing focus.

As Jesus began His public ministry, while in the synagogue in Nazareth, He was given the opportunity to read. Being given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, Jesus unrolled it and read where it is written. . .

“(18) ‘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, (19) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’” ( Luke 4:18-19 ESV)

After rolling up the scroll and sitting down, Jesus declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” ( Luke 4:21 ESV) Though it may have been freedom from the yoke of the Roman empire some might have been looking for in association with the promised Messiah, Jesus came to proclaim and provide the freedom needed by all humanity; freedom from the captivity and oppression of sin. Just as it was during the days of Jesus’ walk on earth, there are still those who do not realize how much they are in need of being set free. ( John 8:33) There is a lack of acknowledgement of how enslaved they truly are. ( John 8:34)

The words Jesus spoke then, still need to be accepted today.
“(31) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (32) and YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.’” ( John 8:31-32 ESV)

Part of THE TRUTH to be acknowledged is that there is sin to be dealt with in our life. ( 1 John 1:10) Accepting this reality we are able to praise God for THE TRUTH that Jesus and the power of His blood are the adequate means of cleansing us from that sin. ( 1 John 1:7) The burden has been lifted! The oppression has been resolved. Freedom has been secured! Therefore Paul could encourage the church at Rome in writing. . .

“(1) There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.” ( Romans 8:1-2 ESV)
Praise God that if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed! ( John 8:36) It is the greatest freedom we can enjoy because of the peace we can have before God and the hope that carries us on into a glorious eternity with Christ. May our life genuinely reflect an appreciation for the freedom our Lord gave His life to secure for us while we declare the offer of that hope to others.

Have a great day CELEBRATING OUR LIBERATION IN CHRIST!
Carl

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