On this Independence Day holiday, I am truly grateful for the freedom we share as Americans. It is a national blessing that isn’t difficult to understand. For those of us who are followers of Christ and live in America we are doubly blessed. We have been set free from the bondage of sin as well. It’s not like a national freedom that is limited within geographical boundaries, it is universal and available to all mankind.
Freedom from sin, though, is a nice theory. In principle, we died with Jesus, the Law is no longer our master; therefore, sin is no longer an issue, and grace rules. But for too many followers of Jesus there’s only one problem: They still sin. And though they try not to, it happens a lot. While the Apostle Paul assures all of us that sin is no longer our master, it often seems so . . . well, masterful.
“Sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
Why is that? Is this passage in the Bible wrong? Of course not. Or, as Paul is fond of saying, “By no means!” When the Bible declares us free from sin, it means that we are free from sin. It isn’t just a removal of the label from the same old disobedient acts. It just isn’t an imputed righteousness that means we are clean in God’s eyes and are still filthy in our own. So what does it mean? It means that sin has lost its power. Really.
That means, of course, that anytime we say we couldn’t help this or that sin, we really could have. It doesn’t mean the temptation wasn’t real and powerful, or that the flesh wasn’t really weak, or that the enemy wasn’t incredibly deceptive or persuasive. But we can’t get away with implying to God that our sin was unavoidable. He won’t buy it. A Savior died to free us from it.
How can we tap into that freedom? It begins with grace. When God freed us from the regulations and requirements of the Old Testament Law by fulfilling them for us, He freed us to something else. Instead of being preoccupied with legalities, we can be preoccupied with Him. And the holiness of His very present Spirit will fill us with everything we need to follow Him well, always. Yes, we can live free from sin always, just like we live free as Americans. Sin no longer rules over us.
Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus have given up this battle, assuming that victory over sin is theoretical rather than practical. Avoid that temptation. In our unity with Jesus’ death and resurrection, We Are Really, Really, Free. We may struggle at times on how to appropriate that victory, but we should never assume it isn’t available. It is. Let’s believe it. We have a much greater Master than sin.
Have a freedom-filled holiday weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who know they are free from sin because they gladly live in dependence of Him who give them victory over everything.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)
Vic Alvarado 