Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1Pe 2:16 )
Free!
Free?
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Rom 6:22 )
This is the whole of our freedom.
Whether Peter is referring to a freedom from the Law is not certain, but we know that Paul references it:
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:13)
We are free from the bondage of sin and free from any pretense that we can in and of ourselves resolve the conflict we had with God when we were still unredeemed.
We are free but it is not a wide-open freedom rather it is a freedom in Christ, by Christ and for Christ. What we undertake, that we cannot undertake in His name, is never an act of freedom.
Jesus said:
"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. (Joh 8:34-36)
Sin and freedom are mutually exclusive. We are free from the imposed rule of sin but when we sin, we are submitting to that which has no rights over us. When we sin, we are re-shackling ourselves – binding ourselves to that from which we have been loosed.
We receive our freedom for we have been redeemed, forgiven, saved. But though the grace of God has no limits for us, to abuse and misuse it, to rebel against His rightful authority over us, is to bring into question the surety of our redemption.
Consider:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Heb 12:1)
Forgiven we may be – free of sin’s bondage we may be – but free of Christ, never.
It is sometimes the way of believers to see themselves so utterly apart from the “world” that they may do or say what they will for they are “saved.” Yet ours is a freedom that is defined by the One who provided it, the One into whose hands God has delivered all things.
Many use their freedom to vilify unbelievers. Many use their freedom as a red cape to a bull. Many use their freedom as an excuse to disassociate from those to whom they are called to witness. Many use their freedom to – just go along as they have – only avoiding the grosser types of sins.
But this verse has a catch. We are free – free servants of God.
But – that word “servants” is troublesome. The “authorities” I regularly consult in my studies hold that it is more accurately translated slave.
One reason for this is quite simply:
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1Co 6:20 )
and
For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. (1Co 7:22 -23)
We were bought out of our bondage to sin to be the slaves of Christ. In this we have great freedom – freedom from sin and freedom to serve God as His.
Though it may irritate some, our freedom in Christ is far beyond any freedom a document written by man can give – anyone. The tough side of our freedom is that we are free to be oppressed, harassed and even killed because of it.
In chains, on the rack, in dungeons, on desert islands, and even in the flames we are free. We have to keep in mind that this freedom is not of man and indeed is often opposed by man. With this freedom we need to accept:
Luk 21:17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake.
Father, help me understand and appreciate my freedom as well as Your ownership of me. Make me quiet and trusting under Your loving hand. Teach me, patiently, to be a good and faithful servant. Teach me Your faithfulness as my Master.
Calm my heart and still my mind with the assurance of Your sovereignty and grace.
Amen
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