THE SLAVE TO LOVE: Freedom We Will Enjoy

Jesus promised, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (John 8:32). The truth is that the life of liberty is one in which we are freed from the slavery of sin and then willing surrendered to Christ, as a slave to love. This is the message of Paul in Romans 6:15-23:

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here’s the truth:

WE ARE FREE FROM SERVING THE OLD MASTER. Verses seventeen and twenty tell us we “were slaves to sin” (past tense). This is no longer the case.

Following the Civil War, there were many slaves that remained on the plantation desiring to serve their old master even though they were now free. They had become so accustomed to slavery that they couldn’t see themselves living any other way. The sad fact is that many of God’s children are settling for a life of continued failure, giving in to an old master from which they have been emancipated!

WE ARE FREE TO SERVE THE NEW MASTER. Verses eighteen, nineteen and twenty-two make it clear that we are now slaves to God. There is the liberating power of obedience. It isn’t freedom to do what we want, but freedom to do what we ought. The bond slave is a slave to love. Since we belong to Jesus, He also has the responsibility to care for us. We are His valuable property and as sich, we have the Master’s provision and protection. How this sets us free from anxiety!

Have you bowed your head and submitted your life to Christ the Lord? Turn from your sins. Christ will break every fetter. Sin shall no longer have dominion over you.