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Of all the denominational arguments that have ever existed regarding wealth and healing, and whatever else has divided the Kingdom of God for lesser reasons, none dispute the central pre-eminence of this truth. Jesus Christ has set us free from the Power of Sin and Death; we are spiritually free.
But what does this mean? Can I live life as a born again, chosen, redeemed, child of God, and still not experience spiritual freedom?
[WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS NOT, "CAN MY SOUL GO TO HELL STILL?" The answer to that is emphatically, Biblically, "NO!" but "CAN I LIVE LIFE WITHOUT THE SPIRITUAL JOY AND SENSE THAT I AM FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF SIN?" ]
Sadly, I believe the answer is yes!
"But mustn't I necessarily experience spiritual freedom? Is it not forced upon me by the effectual calling of God? Isn't that what John 8:36 says?" Again, I believe the answer to that question is no!
The rest of that passage reads this way,
"31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
The Son makes freedom available to us, but notice how he makes it available to us...
"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The Truth is the mode and method by which Jesus sets us free. The problem, earthly speaking, is that Jesus left the "Truth" in the stewardship of human hands. We are the ones that 'dish out' the truth according to our allegiances and personal belief's. The Lutheran's steward the truth differently than the Catholics did. That changed the World. Literally. It led to war in 1546-47. Since then, numerous men and women have stewarded the truth in different ways that led to global conflict and shedding of blood. It is no little thing, that idea of "Truth".
The Bible makes it clear that when the Holy Spirit - not a man - effects a sinner to repentance, that sinner is redeemed and set free from the power of sin and death; yet, the Bible also points out that those same redeemed individuals can live a life devoid of the experience of freedom because they are still living under the burdens of lies, or fear, or man-made regulations. What Am I talking about? Listen to Paul,
"For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
and James,
"16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
The problem is that in these and several other occasions in Scripture, the recipients of the letters, Christians, had already been deceived, had already submitted to a yoke of slavery. They were being encouraged to return to true spiritual freedom in Christ via the Truth alone.
They had thought they were trading in slavery for freedom, but in reality they were simply trading in one burden for another - usually a man-made burden of faulty religious system.
Many of these things are honest attempts to honor God, but they become man-made stipulations that are not concretely found in Scripture. Things like baptism, communion, and confession are big ones that people argue over, which are found in Scripture. But there are other things, like - going to church, reading the Bible, attending Bible Study, wearing pants, dancing, smoking, drinking, etc. which are not concretely prescripted. I wonder what else is out there as a burden on believer's shoulders. What stigmas do people carry because of shame and guilt that others have assigned to them outside of the grace of Christ?
But beyond these issues which are heaped on worshippers as burdens of holiness, people have their own burdens that they have not realized freedom from. Is it any wonder?
Are we really surprised that people struggle with trusting Jesus with their broken hearts and shameful past when religious leaders tell them that the simple choice of lower extremity wardrobe is an affront to God? Is it truly surprising that born again believers have a difficult time letting go of anger or shame, when they have been taught that God can't get over His anger and shame at their continued failings as His children?
How do we experience true Freedom from the burdens that keep us from experiencing life fully? The answer is in Jesus' answer. Be His disciple. His disciples will know His Truth and be set free. If you are studying what someone else says about God, you are not a disciple of Jesus, you are a disciple of that person. If you are sold out to a denomination based solely on what that denomination has taught you and not on your own study of the Word, you are not a disciple of Jesus, you are a disciple of that denomination or of that denominational leader. To be a disciple of Jesus you have to study His words yourself. You can be led to the Table, but you have to pick up the fork after the initial invitation is over. Sometimes, we need help, but we can never surrender our conscience or our will to the integrity of another, no matter who they are. Our Freedom is given to us. Anyone else who comes by to 'regulate' the gate is a "hired hand" or a "stranger" and is operating under false pretense. John 10. If they simply proclaim the truth and guide toward understanding, that is different than regulating. Jesus said in the same passage, "My sheep will know my voice [and be able to discern it from others]." John 10:8, 14, 16.
We have cheapened the definition and experience of a disciple in our world today, and that wreaks havoc on the less mature disciples. They don't understand why they are not experiencing freedom, and the truth is because they are not living in Jesus' Truth, but someone elses'. For those who think we will never be able to agree on truth, Ephesians 4 tells us that the purpose of the Church is to build up the body till we all reach unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 4:13.
We have work to do, and we need to begin by realizing that there are myriads who are longing to experience freedom. It is available. We need to be faithful proclaimers without adding our own regulations. If you are striving to experience it, can I encourage you to simply start reading through the Bible? Just read it for now. Get the story in you. Hear it from Him, and learn the Gospel from Him. Then there will be plenty of people who can help point things out to you. I hope this helps at least a little in moving you toward freedom. God Bless.
With you for His glory,
