True Freedom
Today’s Verse:
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ~Romans 6:22
A twelve-year-old accidentally killed one of his family’s geese by throwing a stone. Figuring his parents wouldn’t notice one of twenty-four, gone he buried it. His sister saw his crime and said, “I saw what you did, and if you don’t wash the dishes for me, I’ll tell mom.” The boy did the dishes for days. One day, the boy said, “You do them.” His sister said, “I’ll tell mom.” The boy replied, “I already told her and she forgave me – I’m free again.” Source: Unknown
This morning, we are looking at three words the Apostle Paul emphasizes upon in Romans 6: free from sin. Freedom from sin is true freedom. This morning, let us consider the blessing of true freedom.
True freedom means there has been FORGIVENESS.
The acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior gives every sinner complete and total forgiveness. The bondage of sin no longer has a sinner under condemnation. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him,” Rom. 5:9. The idea of justification is that God looks at us as if we never sinned. The word “expunged” comes close to this meaning. There is no more record of a sinful past to condemn us. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death, Rom. 8:1-2.
True freedom means there has been a FUNERAL.
The first step of obedience for every saved person is to identify with Christ through scriptural baptism. Baptism is a picture of first, death; then, of resurrection. Baptism is symbolically testifying to other believers you are dead to sin, but alive unto Christ. The old life has been buried and new life in Christ is in us. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin,” Rom. 6:5-7.
True freedom mean there is a FUNCTION.
We are no longer servants to sin but servants to righteousness. “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God,” Rom. 6:13. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,” Rom. 6:22a. We have been set free from the power of sin and under the power of the Holy Spirit. We are servants of God. We have an appetite for the things of God. We desire to serve the Lord and honor him.
True freedom means there will be FRUITFULNESS.
“Ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life,” Rom. 6:22b. We are planted together in Christ, and by drawing upon His fellowship and power, our lives produce real fruit. Paul calls holiness the fruit of righteousness as well. Fruitfulness means we have a purpose and priority. Holiness is being set apart for God. Holiness is living under the power of God and not under the power of sin. Sin makes us slaves. Holiness demonstrates true freedom: we are living in victory.
If you are saved, Christ has set you free! By God’s grace, experience His power to live in true freedom.
Have a sanctified God Morning!