JAC Online

Freedom
by Olivia Munn

(JAC preview excerpt of forthcoming book, THE UPRISING)

Freedom is possibly my favorite definition of holiness … if I’m allowed to choose one. In my mind, it illustrates a life without sin more accurately, and powerfully. Romans chapter six deals with two major analogies regarding holiness. The first half of the chapter describes holiness as death to sin (see chapter 3) and the second half refers to it as freedom from sin.

We are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6b)

Concise statement, but so full. That would be the thesis of this chapter.

So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. (15-18 NLT)

Generally, a slave obeys her master, not because she want to, but because she has to. She is a slave, and that is what slaves do—it is their place. One person is put in the position of slave, and another is the master—and they stick to the rules that go with being in their said position. A slave that disobeys her master is still a slave. In this way, position defines you; behavior does not define position.

This is not so when it comes to the masters of righteousness and sinfulness.

We are blessed because we have the right to choose who masters us. The Scripture quoted above says that whatever we choose to obey becomes our master. It is up to us to decide if we would rather be in slavery to sin or not. So for us: what we do defines what our position is—our position does not define what we do.

We have freedom. We have the freedom to choose to be a slave of sin, which leads to death. Or we can decide to be free from sin. Most slaves do not have the privilege of accepting or denying slavery—but we do.
We become slaves of what we obey. It’s up to us.

I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. (19)

You used to let yourself be a slave of impurity, and a slave of lawlessness. Or perhaps you are still allowing yourself to be held captive by the very things intended to drag you down into death. Whether you used to, or whether you are still living in accepted slavery, you must know: you have been set free. Slavery itself is a lie. Here’s how I picture it:

You are sitting in a dungeon cell—held captive—a prisoner, a slave of your evil master—sin. You are surrounded by chains, and shackles are at your feet—but they are not locked. There is an impenetrable metal door—your only possible exit to the outside world where freedom reigns. That intimidating door is wide open. You are choosing to remain in the dungeon, even though no one can make you stay.

There is one, however, who tries to make you stay, by means of shame, intimidation, and lies. He is a dark figure, by the name of lord Impurity, and he guards the door, staring you down. He tells you to lay down on the grimy floor, and you do it. He tells you to wash his feet, and you obey. He tells you to slander your sister, and you do it. He tells you to close your eyes and forget the oppressed, and you do it.

The reality is: even in a dungeon with chains and thick walls—you are free. Lord Impurity is an imposter—and he has no authority over you. No matter how long you have sat in there, you can always leave. No matter how thick the door is, it has already been flung open for you. No matter how many shackles are on your ankles and wrists, they can always be slipped off.

The captivity itself is a lie. The captor himself is a liar. It may appear impossible—but you are free—believe it.

In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren’t concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are 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. (20-23)

We don’t want to go back to old lifestyles. It’s like a dog going back to its vomit, to eat it all over again. Good thing no one makes the poor mutt do that—and good thing no one will make you go back to your nauseating sin either. You are not required to do the things that result in slavery and lead to death. So there is no good reason to continue in them.

We are under no obligation to do what our sinful nature requires of us!

Why? Because we are not slaves to that nature any more.
Why? Because we chose not to obey it.
Why? Because there was something better.

We are free from the power of sin, and … we have become slaves of God. Why would we choose to go from one form of slavery to another? Because being a slave of God is the only true freedom. I say it again—life is more fun when you’re good. To, “do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life,” is the only way to go! It would be foolish to chose anything else.

Christ has set us free. To live in a prison cell, unshackled, could be considered insanity. We are free to do what we want—and what we want is to follow Jesus. It’s not just what is “right”—it is what you want.

I’ve heard holiness summarized in this sentence - “you are free to not sin.”

It’s good, but it doesn’t quite go far enough. True holiness is more than freedom from sin slavery. It is also surrender to Jesus slavery.

You are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God.

 

 

 

   

 

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