SET FREE FROM SIN
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:20-23 (NLT)
Some people completely misunderstand what it means to begin following Christ. They think that the life of a believer is filled with thou shalt not and nothing else. In their way of thinking, to follow Christ is to be constrained. You can’t do this anymore, or you’re not allowed to engage in that anymore.
This way of thinking is completely backward from what Scripture teaches.
Before we begin a relationship with Jesus, we’re slaves to sin. It wasn’t that we were free to choose to do these sinful things. Our flesh, this fallen world and the enemy all held power over us. We were trapped with no way out. But in Christ, we are set free. His life, death and resurrection make a different path possible. If we trust Him as Lord and Savior, everything changes. No longer are we obligated to listen to our sinful nature. No longer do we have to conform to the ways of the world. No longer is sin our master.
Jesus doesn’t bind us; He sets us free. Don’t move too quickly past this. Jesus sets us free. This freedom is available for you, not just the super Christian that you sit beside at church or your very religious distant relative. You. You can be free in Him.
There will still be temptations. There will still be trials. There will still be times when you struggle to choose what He wants for your life. Consider what Paul writes:
I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. Romans 7:15 (NLT)
If Paul, who wrote over half of the New Testament, felt this way, what hope is there for us? The same hope that Paul had—Jesus (see Paul’s words in Romans 7:24-25).
APPLICATION: Consider who you were before you met Christ. Think about the choices you used to make and what motivated them. Then, thank God for setting you free. When we’ve been following Jesus for some time, it’s easy to lose our spirit of thanksgiving. Take time to thank Him today for rescuing you.
PRAYER: Thank You for redeeming me. Thank You for setting me free from my obligation to sin. Thank You, Jesus, for being a better way. Help me to live fully in the freedom that Your Spirit provides. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?