Freedom from everything

Acts 13:39 “And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses.”

Paul, in the sermon in Pisidia introduces Jesus as the savior and the promised Messiah. The purpose of the Messiah is proclaimed in this message that by believing in Jesus, we are free. The freedom that we had received from Christ has to be understood properly by every Christian. The verse says that there were many things the Law could not free a person at all. The Law produced fear and this fear of the Lord was not sufficient for a person to be saved. The person is still in bondage. But in this period of grace, the authority of sin inside the church is very much higher than the presence of sin during the Law. A church has to question itself if there is a real freedom from sin and it is more effective than the Law. We read in 2 Cor 3:17 that the important sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person is Liberty.

Understanding liberty is essential for every Christian. As per our first verse, we are not bound to anything of the world. Not even jobs, debts, sickness or anything can hold us back from looking at Jesus. Because we have taken refuge in the Son, the King who has victoriously won the earth, He will provide if we seek His kingdom. We think that we are free and not bound to anything, but the Bible clearly instructs in Romans 6:18, 1 Peter 2:16 that unless we submit ourselves as bond-slaves there is no freedom. Galatians 5:1 explains that Jesus set us free for us to have true freedom. Unless we stand firm, a yoke of slavery is waiting to be placed in our necks. Romans 8:1,2 explains the New Covenant is that the law of the Spirit defines that there is life only in Christ Jesus. If we are outside this border, we are bond-slaves.

We should see that God honors this Liberty. He ensures that His children are not yoked with anything unnecessary. In Acts 15:10, we read Peter confronting the church that the Law was unbearable to them. Peter explains them that if the Law was enforced to those who are in the refuge of the Son, they are putting God to test. Colossians 1:12-14 says that we are transferred to a different kingdom of the Son. In this kingdom, we get portions in everything that the saints in the light have inherited. The freedom in the kingdom does not give us the inheritance by mercy but it makes us worthy to be seated with the saints.

Acts 13:32,33 explain that the resurrection of Jesus which was a promise (Psalm 2:7) made to the fathers and has been fulfilled in us. We know the original promise was given to David but fulfilled through Jesus. Similarly, Paul calls that this promise is fulfilled in us when Jesus had risen up. So, we were begotten as new creations when Jesus had risen up. We read that in 1 Peter 1:3. This means that all our bondages are removed and we are born as free children. This situation is totally different than any other religion or even the Old Testament. We read in Romans 5:17 that death was ruling the world.  Every Christian should understand this plan of God in resurrecting Jesus. Earlier Nations raged and people had vainly plotted against God and He had placed Jesus as the victorious one with laughing. The Son has complete authority now and unless we take refuge in Jesus by believing and obeying Him, we are not just bonded servants of the world but would take part in the quick kindled anger of the Son. The worst tribulation the world can give us is death. But Jesus, our king had overcome that and so, by believing in Him, death has no authority over us.

James 1:25 explains that there is a Law of Liberty and this is the perfect Law. We are not set free to unconditionally roam around the world but to be submissive to this Law. There cannot be a kingdom if we are unbound completely. And since this is a law, it gives an abiding person rights and authority. If we do not submit here, the freedom is lost and we are penalized or even put in jail. We can see Paul, put this freedom in practice in Acts 14 where he was both worshipped and then stoned in Lystra. But both these did not have any effect in Paul’s life or ministry. Romans 8:20 says that this liberty is the glory of the children of God. If we abide in Him and make His resurrection worthy, we are seen as glorious and perfect children of God.

Amen.