For many people, when they use the word “freedom” they mean individual rights within society, such as the freedom of speech or freedom of religion. But a Christian has true freedom that is much greater even than the freedom to openly practice religion, express their opinions, or gather with others. This freedom is the greatest freedom there is.
Sin weighs down the mind
Have you ever experienced what it feels like when evil thoughts and deeds weigh on your mind? Sin can weigh on the heart like a heavy load in a backpack. A person whose conscience has been awakened by God may feel like they are being crushed under the weight of their burden. Some people become deeply distressed without knowing why, while others begin to fear death so much they can no longer sleep.
Jesus used a strong expression to describe the state of living in sin:
“Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)
To modern people, this may sound strange, but in Jesus’ day, slavery was commonplace, and when speaking of freedom, people often referred specifically to being freed from slavery. That is why it was easy for Jesus’ original listeners to understand what he meant.
Slavery is an accurate illustration of what life is like under the burden of sin. Sin steals freedom and peace from the human heart. Many try to regain it by avoiding sin, striving to be a better person, and helping others. However, a person’s own determination cannot bring them freedom again, no matter how determined they are. Every person is prone to sin, even if they want to do good.
Jesus’ parable is accurate in another sense as well: liberation from slavery perfectly illustrates what it feels like when a person is freed from the burden of sin. They can truly feel free, because they finally are free. But how does this happen? How can a person be freed from the burden of sin?
The forgiveness of sins sets the heart free
The Bible tells of the Pharisees, who believed that a person could do God’s will by obeying all His commandments. Of course, they were right in that perfect obedience to God’s commandments would be acceptable to God, but they did not understand that no human being is capable of accomplishing this. All are unworthy before God (Ps. 14:2-3).
God’s law demands perfection from mankind. It is merciless and offers a person no freedom. It reveals that each of us is a sinner. Therefore, our only option is to confess our sins and beg God for mercy.
That is exactly what God expects from us. The purpose of His law is to awaken people to their sinfulness and humble them to ask for mercy, for only a person who recognizes their own sinfulness can understand their need for mercy.
Thus, a person does God’s will by confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness. And God is willing to forgive, for “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The best thing a person can hope for is to have a free conscience. God grants this through the forgiveness of sins. But how can one obtain freedom of conscience?
God is Love (1 John 4:7–10), and He desires to save people who have fallen into sin. That is why He sent His Son Jesus, who died on the cross and atoned for the sins of the whole world. Jesus taught that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name” (Luke 24:47). Even today, God’s children proclaim the forgiveness of sins in accordance with that teaching.
The forgiveness of sins removes the heavy burden that a person has carried, and they hear this wonderful comfort: Your sins are forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. You do not have to carry the burden of sin or the things weighing on your mind; instead, you are forgiven for everything. You are free.
Freedom does not give permission to sin
God’s gift of perfect grace thus lifts the burden of sin from a person’s shoulders and brings inner freedom from the slavery of sin. Such freedom, which we can call freedom of conscience, removes rules and restrictions and gives the believer the freedom to act according to their own judgment.
Freedom of conscience, however, is the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit does not lead to one to sin. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”
Paul does not mean that a free believer is free to follow the lusts and desires of their sinful body and mind. He continues:
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (1 Cor. 6:12–13, ESV).
According to the Reformer Martin Luther (1483–1546), a Christian is free and subject to no one, yet the love that comes with this freedom makes them a servant to all. According to Luther, no external thing can make a person truly free, for nothing external reaches the human soul, nor can it imprison or set it free.
Perfect freedom in the heavenly home
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”, wrote Paul to the Galatians (Gal. 5:1), who had begun to do good works to ensure their salvation. Paul wanted to emphasize to them that a person is saved solely by grace, and their deeds do not help in this at all. A person whose sins have been forgiven is free from sin and from the demands of God’s law. Then they may experience freedom, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The forgiveness of sins is complete, but it does not make a person perfect. A person falls into sin even after repenting and personally believing the forgiveness of sins preached in the kingdom of God. Yet, through Christ, even as a sinner, they are righteous—that is, acceptable to God—because through their faith, they possess Christ’s righteousness as if it were their own.
God’s grace teaches believers to live justly. The Holy Spirit guides the believer’s conscience, warns against sin, and instructs them to give up the sins into which they have fallen. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the believer, and causes them to feel ever more deeply both their own sinfulness and the boundlessness of grace.
Believers are also imperfect and, by virtue of their humanity, sinful. Because of this they also need God’s saving grace again and again, day after day. Thanks to Christ, they already have a taste of the freedom that will be made perfect in eternal life in heaven. Jesus taught:
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. (John 8:31–32)
Author: Kingdom of Peace
Image: Erkki Alasaarela, Credits: SRK