Americans love to talk about our freedom as a sovereign nation. Christians love to talk about our freedom in Christ our Sovereign Lord. But we seldom speak of slavery because of the incredibly negative images and feelings the subject emotes at the thought of people owning other people as property. That kind of slavery (God never intended) has its roots as far back as we can see in human history.
But there is a “slavery” that has its roots in absolute freedom – the freedom every man and woman can find and experience in Christ alone. Sin makes “gods” of anything in our lives that controls – enslaves – us or to which we give more honor than the one true God Jehovah. Once again, the religious leaders were protesting that they were sinners or slaves – they were very “religious”. That was the problem!
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”” (John 8: 34 ESV)
The good news is that Jesus went on to say that He came to set us free from sin and slavery to all other gods.
“If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8: 36 NASB)
Freedom in Christ makes slaves of us who submit to His authority—slaves whom God sees as His children and Jesus calls friends.
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Romans 6: 22 ESV)
This year, let us willingly submit to such slavery that brings true freedom found in no other name except Jesus with the promise of eternal life.
