Freedom

"Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."(Jn 8:34–36)


I am very thankful for the freedom of my country. A freedom that I fear most of us take for granted. A freedom that many men have laid down their lives for. A freedom that has been granted to us by our gracious God. However, I must always keep it in perspective. This physical freedom of the United States is only temporary. One day, when the the King returns, their will be no U.S.A. Only the Triune God and His people will remain.

While I am so very thankful for America my allegiance is to Christ. I am Christian before I am American. Think me unpatriotic if you wish but the U.S. could never grant me the freedom that matters the most. That freedom is:  "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Ro 5:6–11) and "Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."(Jn 8:34–36)


This is the only freedom that ultimately matters and the only freedom that remains for all of eternity. It was won by a vicarious death, victorious resurrection and glorious ascension of the one who accomplished this freedom for His people- none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Our great God and King took it upon Himself  out of His grace, love and mercy to enter the realm of His rebellious and sinful subjects who had broken His commandments and broken His laws. In doing this they incurred His righteous anger against them. Justice must be met. Not only is Christ the King loving, merciful and gracious, He is also thrice holy, righteous and just. So the sovereign King Jesus steps off of His glorious throne and enters the world of His rebellious subjects to keep God's laws perfectly for them and suffer their punishment for breaking them. At the cross His body was broken and blood was shed. He took the wrath of God for us. Not only that but He clothes all that are His (repentant believers)with His righteousness. His perfect obedience is credited to all that are His, which means that believers are viewed as never having committed any sin. Forgiven and declared righteous. This is why we sing Amazing Grace!

Reconciled to God and freed from the bondage to sin. We are freed from the wrath that is to come and from the power and reign of sin. No longer is the Christian's life dominated by unrighteousness and worldliness but now by godliness and holiness. Our lives are no longer aimed at pleasing self but honoring the Christ who accomplished and granted us our freedom. Ephesians 2:1-10 says this: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:1–10).


Concerning the Beatitudes Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says this: "Having considered the people to whom the Sermon on the Mount applies, let us ask ourselves this: Why should we study it? Why should we try to live it? Let me give you a list of answers. The Lord Jesus Christ died to enable us to live the Sermon on the Mount. He died. Why? `That he might ... purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,' says the apostle Paul-the apostle of grace (see Tit. ii. 14). What does he mean? He means that He died in order that I might now live the Sermon on the Mount. He has made this possible for me" (Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount Kindle Locations 186-189 Kindle Edition). 


This is true freedom. The freedom which God bestows on His children. Those that have heard this message "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ"(Ac 20:21) and have responded with repentance from sin and faith in Christ Jesus. Let freedom ring!
"To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen"(1 Ti 1:17). Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando