How to Be Free

Some Christians believe that they areenslaved to particular sins. The truth is that they are not slaves. If you area Christian, you are already free.

“Since the childrenhave flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death hemight break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, thedevil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by theirfear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15). 

“Then you will knowthe truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, youwill be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36). 

“We are freeindeed. ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, anddo not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’” (Gal. 5:1).

What are we to do with this freedom?“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”(Matt. 5:48). How can we do that? This verse tells us how—imitate God.

“But love your enemies, do good tothem, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your rewardwill be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind tothe ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”(Luke 6:35–36). Jesus told us to love our enemies. How? Imitate God by beingmerciful.

“Get rid of allbitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form ofmalice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, justas in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearlyloved children” (Eph. 4:31–5:1). 

“But just as he whocalled you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15).

If unsaved people were commanded toimitate God, that command would make no sense. They are captive to Satan andunable to imitate God. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope thatGod will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, andthey may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, havingbeen held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:25–26).

“And you will know the truth, and thetruth will make you free” (John 8:32). We are free, and because of that we havethe ability to imitate God.

“.. . because through Christ Jesus the law ofthe Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:2).

“Is not this thekind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie thecords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).

What you have just read is theintroduction to my book How to Be Free, the sequel to How to Be Free from Bitterness. It is available at ccmbooks.org and Amazon. I hope it willbe a blessing to you.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships