Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Christ offers freedom in the Gospel to all who believe. This is a marvelous truth and the blessed hope of all who trust in Christ as savior. However, we sometimes can confuse worldly notions of freedom with what Jesus offers here. Sinners naturally want freedom, but Jesus is not interested in giving us greater freedom to sin.
What Jesus offers in the Gospel is true freedom, but a freedom to live under good and gracious authority. Humans are dependent beings; we are simply not able to exist apart from relationship to others. This is especially true regarding our relationship with God. We are either submitting to Him as obedient children, or we are rebelling against Him as servants of another master.
Christianity (i.e. belief in Christ) is an all-of-life transformation. Christians are freed from sin and judgment, and they are given a new and better King – namely the heavenly Father. God’s words are joy-filled and life-giving to the hearts of those who love Him, and this is the very definition of what it means to be a Christian disciple.
We are free to lovingly submit to our good heavenly Father.
Holding the Line 