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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