"True Freedom"

There is a common misconception concerning the nature of TRUE freedom.  
Freedom, as many would define it, means to be able to do what you WANT, 
whatever it is, FREE from ALL restraints.

This is NOT freedom; this is selfishness. And selfishness is the root of SIN!

The origin of temptation to sin, as described by James, is comparable to a fishing analogy (James 1:14-15).  He wrote:  “Each one is tempted…

• “When he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” – the fish is drawn to a particular bait because it is appealing to the fish.

• “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin” – the fish has taken the bait!

• “And sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” – the fish has been hooked, caught, and is soon to be eaten!

With these words, James shows us that - the temptation process is directly related to our OWN sinful, selfish desires.  And, if we ACT on our selfish 
desires, then we are trapped!

It is common for us to think of SIN as a SERVANT rather than a MASTER.  When we CHOOSE to commit sin, we usually do so because we think that it will SERVE OUR interests – OUR selfish desires.  SIN is viewed as a tool to bring us pleasure, and we view ourselves as being in control.  The sin will go no further than WE want it to go, and we can stop it whenever we want.  But we are naïve.  We are like Eve who only saw the forbidden fruit as a means to satisfy her desires and ambitions, but could not see the terrible consequences of her choice (see Genesis 3).

In the Bible, God teaches us to look at sin in a different way. There ARE temporary pleasures associated with sin (Hebrews 11:25), but ultimately it leads to pain, death and eternal ruin.  It is like bait to the fish, a tasty morsel that offers quick and easy gratification, but hidden inside is the DEADLY barb! 

Once we give in to sin, it takes hold of us and drags us along.  What we thought of as our SERVANT suddenly becomes our MASTER.  It takes us places we did NOT plan to go and causes changes in our lives that we 
NEVER intended!  THEN - we realize that the great liberation and freedom that sin and selfishness offered were only traps.  We find instead that we have SOLD ourselves into slavery, and it is a bitter slavery indeed!

Sin and selfishness promise FREEDOM, but they deliver BONDAGE.

The GOOD NEWS is that TRUE freedom can be found in Christ!  By the grace and mercy of God, we are saved and delivered from the bondage of sin and selfishness when we, through faith and repentance, are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (see Acts 2:38).

TRUE freedom is NOT the ability to live as we CHOOSE to live, but the ability to live as we OUGHT to live.  Christ, through His death on the cross, paid the ransom price to free us from the power of self and sin.  He died to set us free, but NOT free to have our OWN way or to indulge our selfish desires.  That would lead us right back into bondage!  

Through Christ, we are free to do what was impossible to do without Him: to live unselfishly for God and for the benefit of others.

"Therefore if the Son makes you FREE, you shall be FREE INDEED" John 8:36)!

Have you Obeyed the Gospel? (click here)

God bless you!  

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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