(Freedom in Christ)
Introduction
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” -John 8:36, NLT
“When will you be free?” I asked Rick as we played Dominoes. And what I meant was, “When will you be released?”
You see we were sitting in the windowless county jail. And though I meant it one way, the Lord had used it another way.
Rick looked at me with a glint in his eyes and said, “I'm already free. Jesus set me free.”
Rick, who had been there about six months longer than I had, went on to tell me about how he met Jesus and how he was now experiencing more freedom than he ever had outside the prison walls.
That was the day I learned what true freedom was. If you are a Christ-follower, you know what I'm talking about and you've experienced this freedom!
Click “Start Track” and join me over the next three days as we unpack the genuine freedom found in Christ.
Day 1: Freedom From Sin
“…I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” -John 8:34, NLT
The Garden of Eden is where our little story of sin began. Some blame Eve. Others blame Adam, but I think it was less about who ate the apple and more about the serpent who served it up. He knew the man was weak and how quickly he could be deceived.
So, when Adam and Eve took that first bite, sin entered the world; and it's been passed down to every generation ever since.
Sadly, sin separates us from God; and that sin makes us slaves John 8:34. Jesus died to set us free. When we accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives, He removes the stain of sin. However, that doesn't mean we stop sinning. We will continue to make mistakes, but His blood covers us and makes us holy before our Father in heaven.
Colossians 1:22 says, “…As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”
We will never be perfect until we are home in heaven with Jesus. But He gives us the power to overcome sin's grip on our lives here on earth. You can indeed be free if you surrender to Him. Here are three steps you can take toward freedom:
- Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
- As the Holy Spirit reveals areas of your life where you are struggling, ask Him for forgiveness and strength to break free.
- Confess these areas of struggle to a trusted friend who will pray for you and hold you accountable.
Reflect and Respond:
- Have you accepted Jesus? If not, give us a call at 1-800-525-5683, and we'll talk!
- Read Romans 6:1-4. Do we have a license to sin? Why, or why not?
