Only Jesus can break the bonds of slavery, give freedom

As the United States of America celebrates its 247th Independence Day on July 4, it’s worth noting the nation was founded upon the idea that God created human beings to be free.

The Declaration of Independence states people “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Sadly, this was still during the time that many people of color were held as slaves with no rights by the writers and proclaimers of those words.

But what is “liberty,” exactly? Is freedom based upon the country where you live or can it have a deeper meaning?

Many people around the world in countries such as Iran, North Korea and China have no true freedom still today and are afraid of speaking against their governmental leaders

People have been searching for it for thousands of years. The search for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God’s creation, humanity gave up its freedom by choosing to rebel against God.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3:6-7

From that time forward, the freedom God created in the Garden of Eden was gone.

The long-term effects were both physical and spiritual.

The Old Testament of the Bible records how God’s people lost their physical freedom time and again as various empires overtook them. Exodus 12:41 says that the Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years under bondage.

God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ.

When Jesus began his short period of ministry on the earth, Jesus announced he was the one that God’s people had been waiting for since the fall of humanity. Jesus did this by reading a particular passage from the book of Isaiah. It was a passage his listeners knew was referring to the Messiah, or the Savior of the world. The words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future.

When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him. Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

The central message of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond.

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17).

John 3:17 is often overlooked or not quoted, but it is of equal importance.

The good news is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted. God gives us freedom to choose our own path. God created human beings, not robots.

We don’t have to accept the freedom he offers us through Jesus Christ.

He gives each person the free will to accept or reject his salvation. But the Bible warns hell is a real place where real people end up when they knowingly reject the truth.

The Psalmist David reminded his people and us, “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

“They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9

Likewise, those who choose Jesus Christ are not forced to obey him at every turn.

But God makes it clear. The best life is one that’s devoted to honoring Him.

As the Apostle Paul explained to some of the first Christians, “All things are lawful for me,’” but not all things are helpful. “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” 1 Corinthians 6:12.

From Genesis cover to Revelation, God’s word points to freedom in Jesus Christ.

God doesn’t leave us wondering how to grab hold of the freedom he offers. It starts with acknowledging our brokenness and admitting we are slaves to sin.

It ends with choosing Jesus and following him daily.

Only Jesus can break the bonds of slavery and lead us to true freedom, now and forever.

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff in 2015. He is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served congregations of the Christian Church in Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Missouri.