James 1:25 “But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.” (Berean Study Bible) “But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God – the free life ! – even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.” (The Message)
What does “freedom” actually mean? For many people, the term implies that they have the freedoms promised in the American Bill of Rights that is embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Millions have left their home countries and have done everything they can to reach America just because of those freedoms.
Some people feel that freedom means they should be able to do anything they wish, at any time, without fear of any consequences. But this view of freedom is childish and short – sighted. I might feel I have freedom to set off fireworks in the middle of a crowded city, but what about military veterans and pets, for whom loud noises mean terror? What about their freedom to live in peace? There must be a limit to my freedom if it is not going to hurt others, and there must be a limit to their freedom if they are not going to hurt me. Anybody who claims that they should be able to do whatever they want without regard for someone else is behaving like a spoiled two year – old child.
Currently in America, there are groups who feel that freedom for them should mean imposing their will on everybody else, without any restrictions for them, but without regard for the lives or safety of anybody who fails to agree with them. The concept of freedom can be abused, and this is abuse, pure and simple. Promoting anarchy as a means of protesting abuses does not result in freedom, but rather in oppression of anybody holding a differing view.
The Bible has a different view of freedom. James refers to something he calls “the perfect law of freedom.” Eugene Peterson in The Message translates this as “the revealed counsel of God – the free life.” What kind of freedom is this?
Today there is a great deal of talk and blame being assigned about slavery and those responsible. Slavery is not a recent phenomenon; the wretched practice of slavery is as old as the human race. Egyptian hieroglyphics and other ancient monuments depict slaves. Ancient writings mention slaves. But really, each and every one of us was born into slavery, whether or not we realized it.
As fallible human beings, we were born with a sin nature. No matter how hard we try, we sin many times each day. This is why Jesus Christ came to live and die as a man and to defeat death, hell, and the grave so that we could be freed from our sins. Jesus has purchased our freedom from the slavery of sin with his blood sacrifice. But as long as we fail to accept what Jesus has already done for us, we remain in that slavery. To get out of bondage to sin, we must accept what Jesus has already done for us and stop living for ourselves.
Even Christian freedom has boundaries. We can’t just say, “Oh, well, Jesus has paid for all my sins, so now I can do anything I want to.” Romans 6:15-18 says “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
SPOILER ALERT! WE ARE ALL GOING TO SERVE SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY! WE WILL EITHER SERVE OURSELVES, IN WHICH CASE, WE ARE SERVING SATAN, OR WE WILL SERVE GOD. To quote Ron Kenoly, “There is a spiritual war waging today, and there is no demilitarized zone.” Freedom does not mean we can kick back, relax, and blunder on heedless of God’s will. We must continue to study God’s Word, to pray, and to ask God to help us, so that we will use our freedom from sin to bring in the Kingdom of God.
PRAYER: Father God, help everyone who reads this to realize the incredible gift of freedom you have given them – freedom from sin, from death, and from the devil! Help them also to turn their hearts to you and to search your Word. We ask this in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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