Liberty in Christ
When the communist dictatorships fell across Europe in the early 1990's, T.V.
news crews documented the uncovering of evidence of horrible brutality in
Romania at the hands of its dictator and his secret police. As one of the
mourners watched the remains of his loved ones being unearthed by workers, tears
streamed down his face. He vowed to continue the fight. His life meant nothing.
People must have liberty.
What does the term "liberty" mean to the Christian?
Almost 20 centuries ago Jesus stood in His hometown synagogue as asked for the
scroll containing the words of Isaiah, the prophet, who had lived seven
centuries before. Jesus read to those who had assembled there; "The Spirit of
the Lord is upon Me. Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the
poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to
captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed." This text is found in Isaiah 61:1,2.
The "liberty" Jesus spoke of is spiritual freedom -- freedom from sin and its
consequences. Jesus said, "I say unto you, whoever commits sin is a slave of
sin" and "Therefore, if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (see
John 8:33-36).
The suffering of the Romanian people was bad enough under the dictator, and it
seems as if every year we see more and more examples similar brutality. But
understand that the wages of sin are even worse. Sin commits atrocities on the
very soul within. Do not wait until judgment to discover the atrocities of sin.
Liberty is available in Jesus today.
By Jon W. Quinn
The Final Page
From Expository Files 9-9; September 2002
