Freedom by the Spirit

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:17-18)

I have great admiration for those people who give their lives over to the protection of endangered species. Pictured above is Ben Goodwin, the son of a family at church, who breeds and releases wetas back into the wild. (A weta is a giant armoured cricket-like insect that gives me the creeps.) The greatest satisfaction for these people is when they see the creature returned to a place where they will thrive and be free. All creatures were made for freedom, including you and me.

Our life is meant to live with a real and true sense of freedom. However, much like an endangered species, we find ourselves in captivity, burdened by a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). While we were bred in captivity, we were made for freedom.

St Augustine of Hippo (354-430) recognised this captivity as a part of the broken created order and called it ‘original sin’. Simply put, original sin is the state of all of creation, a curse that was first brought upon us by the Fall. Paul writes: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned (Rom 5:12).

Some may ask, how can a baby be under original sin? Surely sin is a conscious choice of the individual? It seems unfair. However, how it seems is not the point. That way of thinking is only part of the understanding of our sinful state. The effects of sin are not only the choices we make but also the order of reality to which we find ourselves subject. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God (Rom 8:20). If it were not so, it would be technically possible for the death and resurrection of Jesus to be for only some and thus his death would be in vain and not truly sufficient and once for all (Rom 6:10, Heb 10, 1 Ptr 3:18). But we know through personal attestation that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom3:23). David writes: surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Ps51:5). So what is the eternal destiny of a baby who may die prematurely in the womb, or before they become aware of their choices, or their LORD? John Piper says: ‘God in his justice will find a way to absolve infants who die of their depravity. It will surely be through Christ. But beyond that, we would be guessing. It seems to me that the most natural guess would be that babies will grow up in the kingdom (either immediately, or over time) and will by God's grace come to faith so that their justification is by faith alone just like ours. Therefore his grace and his wisdom can easily make provision for those who do not yet know of Christ or have yet to make a conscious choice to reject the ways of God.’ We must also remember the LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Ps 145:8). He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Ptr 3:9).

We all want to be free. God wants us to be free. The desire for freedom comes from the Makers imprint upon our hearts. We know we were made for freedom. However, we find ourselves in need of freedom that we cannot attain. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb10:4). In this helpless state, Jesus steps in. God says through Paul: it is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Gal5:1). It is by the means of the perfect sacrifice: For if, by the trespass of the one man [Adam], death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Rom 5:17).

Though we are bred in captivity, we are destined for freedom. It is through Jesus Christ alone that we find freedom as he searches us out and unlocks our cages to release us back to our created purpose of relationship with God. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy (Heb 10:14).

Therefore we see where the Spirit of the LORD is there is freedom (2Cor3:17). Wow! I just love that! Wherever God’s Spirit is allowed to rule and reign, the result is freedom. You cannot avoid being set free!

All this is made real to us by the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Rom 8:15-17). Christ is not subject to sin or slavery, and therefore he is free and fully able to set us free. Therefore as co-heirs with Christ, we too can enter into freedom witnessed to us by the Holy Spirit.

The psalmist puts it like this: I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. (Ps 119:45-48)

Just like the Giant Weta, the Giant Panda, the Snow Leopard, the Tiger, the Orangutan, the Kakapo, and the Hector's Dolphin, there is a plan for YOUR freedom. Jesus has found you and offers you freedom back into his wild! Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you FREE from the law of sin and death (Rom8:1-2).

The question is, are you going to walk out of the cage to the freedom offered to us by the Spirit?

May this be the week where you start to walk more fully in the freedom bought for you!

Blessings

Fraser