Free Indeed!
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The depth of the above referenced verse is only realized when we first clearly know the extent of our bondage. Do you understand what you were before receiving Christ, dear friend? Do you know the imprisonment wrought by sin? Sin brought spiritual death and separation from God. Sin had chained you to an empty and hopeless future. Sin oppressed, depressed, and defeated you. Sin was upon all of us and the wages of that sin was eternal death. You could not break free. Do you remember?
In desperation and child-like faith, you turned to the only one who offered complete forgiveness and freedom from the penalty of sin. You simply believed the written record. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Can you remember the freedom you experienced the moment you turned to Jesus Christ in faith? We did not know the full depth of what had happened, but we knew that “once I was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind, but now I see !”
Oh sure, we did not know the full measure of Christ when we first trusted Him. Throughout our Christian life we have grown in our knowledge and love for the Saviour. But in that first encounter, we knew our sin. We knew our bondage to it. We knew there was no goodness in us that could satisfy God and His righteous demands. So by faith, we turned to Jesus Christ. The one who died for my sins, was buried, rose from the grave on the third day, and who ascended to the heavens where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus alone hath set me free! Therefore, I am free indeed! Never condemned—free!
Have you forgotten the freedom that Christ has brought? Have you forgotten that there was absolutely nothing we could do in order to satisfy the sin debt? Remember? Have you left your first love? Remember the freedom and the liberty Christ hath wrought in your life, dear believer, and walk in that reality everyday. The same one that brought freedom from the penalty of sin is the same one who continually cleanses you from sin. Jesus Christ is the same one who gives victory each day. There is no condemnation—ever. If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you are free indeed!
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
March 16th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Forrest,
Thank you for this great reminder in His Truth. The verse from John 8;36 is a theme from the radio broadcast of “Unshackled,” through the Pacific Garden Missions of Chicago. (I think you might know that.) This is such a good reminder to all of us as we face the challenges of everyday life. It also is a reminder of the ever growing moral decay of this country.
God used a man almost 100 years ago by the name of Oswald Chambers. His passion for Christ has become of part of many Christians daily devotional reading. I don’t want to embarrass you, but I feel you are like Oswald Chambers of this era to us. Please continue to allow God to use your insights to benefit us as Christ leads you daily. Thank you Brother for your ministry to us.
God Bless you Forrest.
Your brother in Christ,
Don DeSimone
Gal 6:10
March 16th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I love the theme “Free in Christ.” As you know, Don, it’s only been since early 2000 that God opened my eyes of understanding to the complete preeminence of Jesus Christ. That does not make me any more special than the thousands of other Christians who know and love Him.
Prior to that, I lived in the bondage of process and performance driven Christianity. I glory in my infirmity of Multiple Sclerosis. God has used it to show me the all together sufficiency of Christ.
I now have a Facebook account and put daily devotionals and encouraging comments on it. I was touched by a comment Julie C. left on her “status” just yesterday. It said:
“Julie is extremely grateful Christ’s love for me is not earned or based on anything I do or don’t do. It is not performance based. I could never deserve it.”