Many battles have been fought and lives lost, many words have been written, many people imprisoned and downtrodden all because they wanted to preserve freedom. There are areas of the world where it would be impossible to publish this magazine, read any Christian literature or even the Bible itself. We gladly acknowledge and truly appreciate the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives to ensure that we enjoy this freedom.
However, in a Bible context what is freedom? Are you free? You may answer, "Of course I am free. I have the same rights and liberties as every one else." Your answer is correct in relation to men and politics in this land and things regarding this life. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed," John 8.36. The people to whom He spoke may have thought that He was referring to the bondage of the Jews to the Romans, but His ministry was not political but spiritual. He had just said previously, v34, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." In reality He is teaching that the person who presently and actively is involved in sin, is not free but is the slave of sin. How startling for many to realise ‘I am not free. I am in bondage.’ You may argue this does not apply to you. Well, test yourself. Try to give up that habit; that friendship, that darling sin and you will experience, as did the author many years ago, I am in bondage.
Others may bring a message that promises freedom but only brings the recipient into bondage to the preacher or religion or some obscure sect. "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage," 2 Peter 2.19.
How is the freedom obtained? Again we repeat the words of the Lord Jesus, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Freedom is only found in Him. Thus the apostle taught the Galatians, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…". The Lord Jesus gave some reasons why He came from heaven in Luke 4.18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised …".
Just as others died in the last war, for example, to procure our freedom, when He died upon the cross at Calvary, outside Jerusalem, He paid the great price, the ultimate price for our freedom from sin and Satan. It is recorded in Hebrews 2.14, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that, is the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." The one who holds us in the bondage and thraldom of sin has been defeated and we can be free! What a message! O sinner believe it! Receive the liberating Saviour and throw off the shackles that bind you in the misery of your sin and be ready with us for the glorious liberty which shall be experienced in the future. "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God," Romans 8.21.