This post is from July of 2016.
It’s amazing how much the word “freedom” or “free” is used in this day and age. We see it all the time in advertisements: “buy two GET ONE FREE!” “FREE KIDS MEAL (with purchase of adult entrée).” Everything that is “free” seems to have a catch. It’s free if you do this. It’s free if you first pay for that or sign up for this program. These days, it’s nearly impossible to find something that is really truly free.
But the most important and undeserved thing we could possibly need is completely free. What is it?
Forgiveness. Salvation.
Forgiveness of every single mistake you’ve ever made. Salvation from eternal death and punishment. It all comes from a God who loves you more than you could possibly imagine. From the Father who was willing to let His Son die a death He didn’t deserve, for you. So you could be forgiven. So you could be saved. We didn’t do anything to earn this freedom. In fact, all we’ve done is messed it up and messed it up some more. (Credits to my pastor for that phrase). We deserve for God to turn His back on us or even destroy us and start over.
But that’s not what He did. He’s with us every step of the way. He’s already forgiven everything we have done, are doing, and will do. We can go to heaven when we die because Jesus paid the price for us–no catch, no small print. And because He gave us free salvation, we are free.
Free from sin. Free from a life of spiritual slavery. If you don’t believe in Jesus, the hard truth is that you are not saved. You are a slave to your sin. You are a slave to the Devil. It’s sad. It’s hard to accept sometimes. But that’s the way it is.
The good news is that God has freed us. He sent His son, Jesus, and through Jesus’ death and resurrection He has freed us from sin, death, and the power of the Devil. The Holy Spirit has been sent to dwell among us and all we have to do is accept Him into our hearts. That’s all it takes. We are saved. We have been set free for free.
I would like to add to this post that it can seem like this is a transactional "freedom" just as any other "free" offer that I mentioned in the first paragraph: You get salvation but you have to accept Jesus into your heart. But that's not quite right. You don't have to accept Jesus as your Savior and then Jesus saves you. Jesus already has saved you. Whether you accept this gift or not, He's done it. You don't have to do anything to earn the free gift. In fact, it's impossible to earn it. You simply choose to receive it or not by either accepting or rejecting Jesus as your Savior.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1