True Freedom

The world may define freedom as being free to do whatever you want and being free from all oversight, all government, all rules, and all laws, being free to come and go as you please. However, the Bible has a different definition of freedom.

The Truth Will Set You Free
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (Joh 8:31-32)

Notice He said this to the Jews who had believed in Him, which means they were believers. He said that the way he would know if they were really His disciples was if they would hold to His teachings. In other words, if they would put His words into practice (Mt 7:24), they would really be His disciples. And we all know that the only people who ultimately make it to heaven are disciples of Christ. This is the difference between believers and disciples.

I observe a cause and effect relationship in these verses. The first cause is "if you hold to My teachings." The effect is "then you will know the truth." From this we learn that the way you come to know the truth intimately and personally is by holding to Jesus' teachings. It is not simply through head-knowledge of the truth, but through putting it into practice that you come to know the truth much like you come to know a dear friend through experience together. 

The second cause I observe here is the same as the above effect. In other words, "then you will know the truth" now becomes the second cause. That second cause brings about another effect, which is "the truth will set you free." It's the truth that sets you free, and Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6). The converse of this statement is that the devil's lies keep you in bondage. The world falsely believes that indulging the sinful nature is true freedom, which is a lie of the devil, but in reality it is the truth that sets you free. It sets you free from all sorts of bondage, including (but not limited to) fears, phobias, mental illnesses, physical illnesses, sin, and addictions of all kinds.

If you could come to know the truth just by learning it in your head, then everyone that has memorized a few Bible verses would be set free. But we know that many people who have memorized Bible verses are not free but still in bondage. What Jesus taught was that when we come to know the truth by holding to His teachings, then the truth would set us free. As I said, Jesus the Son of God is the One who sets you free.

Sinners are Slaves, But Jesus Sets You Free Indeed
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'"  (Joh 8:34-36)

He plainly taught here that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, but if the Son sets you free, then you will be free indeed. You will be truly liberated from the sin that once enslaved you. He's a chain breaker.

I have personally experienced this in my own life. I used to be in bondage to so many different sins, including cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, and sexual sins, but Jesus set me free indeed.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is There is Freedom
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2Co 3:17-18).

Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, you will find freedom. In that atmosphere, anything is possible. You might dance, or laugh, or cry, or fall down under the power of God, or lift your hands in worship, or leap for joy, or weep with repentance for your sins, or speak in tongues, or even prophesy. You are free to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Illustration
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose." (Act 16:25-26).

This is a great illustration of what happens in the spirit when we worship God in spirit and in truth. Doing so brings about a shaking in the spiritual atmosphere and chains are broken off of you. 

God's Word is Not Chained
Paul wrote, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained." (2Ti 2:8-9).

Even when Paul was chained like a criminal, God's Word was not chained, because it cannot be chained. It is invincible! Nothing can stop it or hold it down.

Death Could Not Hold Him
Jesus is the Word, and even death could not hold Him down.

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."'" (Mar 16:5-7)

"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." (Act 2:24). Since death is the last enemy to be conquered and death could not even hold Him down, Jesus has proven that He is victorious over all. There is nothing that can stop Him, and nothing in your life that He cannot set you free from.

He Frees Those in Slavery to the Fear of Death
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Heb 2:14-15)

The devil uses the fear of death to keep people in slavery to sin. It's one of his biggest tricks. But Jesus has broken the devil's power and frees those who are held in slavery by their fear of death.

Jesus Proclaims Freedom for the Prisoners
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." (Luk 4:18)

The good news is that Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. So if you are a prisoner to sin, I am proclaiming freedom to you today in Jesus' name! If you are a prisoner of anything, He can set you free. If you are oppressed, He can set you free. He died on the cross for you, shed His blood, and rose from the dead to make it all possible. 

He Liberates Us From Bondage and Brings Us Into Freedom and Glory
"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." (Rom 8:20-21)

This passage teaches us that all creation (including all people) has been subjected to bondage, but it will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God

Through Faith In Him We May Approach God With Freedom
"In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Eph 3:12)

We Were Once in Slavery
"So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world." (Gal 4:3)

We Are No Longer Slaves
"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods." (Gal 4:6-8)

Hagar - Mount Sinai - Present Jerusalem in Slavery with Her Children
The apostle Paul taught that Hagar represents Mount Sinai where the Law of Moses was given, which represents the present city of Jerusalem. "Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children." (Gal 4:25)

Heavenly Jerusalem is Free
"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." (Gal 4:26)

The heavenly Jerusalem is free and that is our home if we know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We Are Children Of The Free Woman
"But what does Scripture say? 'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.' Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." (Gal 4:30-31)

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1)

Christ set us free to experience true freedom, so don't let yourselves go back under slavery again.

Called to Be Free, Not to Indulge the Flesh
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Gal 5:13-14)

Grace is not a license to sin. Jesus didn't set you free so that you could go and do whatever you want. You are His slave now.

"Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves." (1Pe 2:16)

A Man is a Slave to Whatever Has Mastered Him
"They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for 'a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.'" (2Pe 2:19)

There are preachers and others who promise people freedom, but are actually themselves slaves to depravity. Watch out that they don't deceive you with their lies. Whatever has mastered a man, that is what he is a slave to. When I was mastered by alcohol, I was a slave to it. When I was mastered by cigarettes, I was a slave to it. It's that simple. Check yourself to see if you are mastered by anything, because if you are, then you are a slave to the thing that has mastered you.

To Be Led By the Spirit Is To Be Free
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:16-21)

You don't get to do whatever you want. You must be led by the Spirit, and then you will not be under the law, nor will you do anything in conflict with the Spirit. When you walk by the Spirit, you will not carry out the acts of the flesh, which are diametrically opposed to the Spirit. This is how to continue in the freedom you have received.

No Law Against the Fruit of the Spirit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23)

This is what the Spirit will produce in your life when you walk by the Spirit, and there is no law against any of these things.

The Word is the Perfect Law That Gives Freedom
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." (Jas 1:22-25)

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom..." (Jas 2:12)

What is this law he was talking about?

James was speaking in this passage of the perfect law of love. John Wesley said, "He who keeps the law of love is free. He that does not, is not free, but a slave to sin, and a criminal before God."

Matthew Henry wrote: 
Observe here, [1.] The gospel is a law of liberty, or, as Mr. Baxter expresses it, of liberation, giving us deliverance from the Jewish law, and from sin and guilt, and wrath and death. The ceremonial law was a yoke of bondage; the gospel of Christ is a law of liberty. [2.] It is a perfect law; nothing can be added to it. [3.] In hearing the word, we look into this perfect law; we consult it for counsel and direction; we look into it, that we may thence take our measures. [4.] Then only do we look into the law of liberty as we should when we continue therein - “when we dwell in the study of it, till it turn to a spiritual life, engrafted and digested in us” (Baxter) - when we are not forgetful of it, but practice it as our work and business, set it always before our eyes, and make it the constant rule of our conversation and behaviour, and model the temper of our minds by it. [5.] Those who thus do, and continue in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in their deed; blessed in all their ways, according to the first psalm, to which, some think, James here alludes. He that meditates in the law of God, and walks according to it, the psalmist says, shall prosper in whatsoever he does. And he that is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work which God's word sets him about, James says, shall be blessed. The papists pretend that here we have a clear text to prove we are blessed for our good deeds; but Dr. Manton, in answer to that pretence, puts the reader upon marking the distinctness of scripture-phrase. The apostle does not say, for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. This is a way in which we shall certainly find blessedness, but not the cause of it. This blessedness does not lie in knowing, but in doing the will of God. Joh_13:17, If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven.

As the psalmist said, "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." (Psa 119:45)

Closing Words
Through this study in God's Word we have been reminded that true freedom is not like the world sees freedom, where you can do whatever you feel like doing and indulge your sinful nature. True freedom that Christ gives is the freedom to truly live life to the fullest the way God intended it. It's an abundant life, free from sin, free from bondage, free from fear, free from addictions, free from vain religion, and free from slavery to the devil and his lies. This is what it means to be free indeed. If you hold to Jesus' teachings, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. True freedom is found only in Christ through a personal relationship with Him.

Attribution notice: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan. 

Author's note: I also recommend reading my articles, The Evil Spirit of Alcohol, Sin and Consequence, Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven, The Forgotten Sin of Worldliness, The Kingdom of Darkness, Demonology 101, Demons Disguised as Humans, Rock, Rap, and Reggae Music -- Five Divine Revelations, Alcohol and Cigarettes -- Ten Divine Revelations, as well as the articles available through the Home page of this blog.  You may access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.