How to Be Free

Some Christians believe that they are
enslaved to particular sins. The truth is that they are not slaves. If you are
a Christian, you are already free.

“Since the children
have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he
might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the
devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their
fear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15). 

“Then you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36). 

“We are free
indeed. ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’” (Gal. 5:1).

What are we to do with this freedom?
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
(Matt. 5:48). How can we do that? This verse tells us how—imitate God.

“But love your enemies, do good to
them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward
will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to
the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”
(Luke 6:35–36). Jesus told us to love our enemies. How? Imitate God by being
merciful.

“Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just
as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children” (Eph. 4:31–5:1). 

“But just as he who
called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15).

If unsaved people were commanded to
imitate God, that command would make no sense. They are captive to Satan and
unable to imitate God. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that
God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and
they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having
been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:25–26).

“And you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free” (John 8:32). We are free, and because of that we have
the ability to imitate God.

“. . . because through Christ Jesus the law of
the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.
8:2).

“Is not this the
kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the
cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).

What you have just read is the
introduction to my book How to Be Free, the sequel to How to Be Free from Bitterness. It is available at ccmbooks.org and Amazon. I hope it will
be a blessing to you.

This post coordinates with today’s reading in the To
the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,
please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.