In the Old Testament, God has redeemed His people [Israelites] from slavery in Egypt, though their freedom was always conditional upon their living within God's law. Bondage, however, always seemed something of an anomaly. Full freedom was the goal toward which the prophets saw Israel moving. They saw some sad experiences of captivity standing between Israel and freedom, but this seemed to deepen not only their love of freedom but their understanding of it as well.

The later prophets spoke of freedom in a more inward sense than is contained in the mere absence of external restraints. Freedom was not just a matter of liberating slaves or of achieving independence. It involved being free of every kind of oppression, being free of all that restricts and inhibits human life. Full freedom means freedom within the will of God. It is the truth that liberates. We are free to be what we truly are. It would make no sense to speak of our being free to be what we were neither made nor meant to be.

This emphasis was explicitly endorsed by the Lord Jesus Christ:

The spirit of the Lord Yahweh has been given to me,
for Yahweh has anointed me,
He has sent to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;
to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh,
a day ........ - Isaiah 61 - Luke 4:18-19 -

Freedom is, indeed, an easily misunderstood concept. It does not involve unconditional self-determination, since peoples are not free to choose just anything. For instance, they cannot choose to be all flesh, spirit, animal, or angel. That simply is not what they are. It is contrary to the truth that sets them free. But from a biblical point of view, people can be in bondage to social habits, market forces, evil influences, or mere ignorance and sloth. The condition upon which God's has given liberty to human being is eternal vigilance.

There is even a sense in which our full freedom demands that we accept some commitments and restraints. After all, it is our nature to live in community. We cannot be truly free outside it. To live in community involves some curbing of our individual right to do as we please. And "freedom under the law" can be seen as an image of a greater freedom within the rule of God.

To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:

'If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
you will learn the truth
and the truth will make you free.' - John 8:31-32 -

They answered, "We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, "You will be made free?" Jesus replied:

I tell you most solemnly,
everyone who commits a sin is a slave.
Now the slave's place in the house is not assured,
but the son's place is assured.
So if the Son makes you free,
you will be free indeed. - John 8:33-36 -

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. - Gal. 5:1 -

My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. - Gal. 5:13-14 -

Does the fact that we are living by grace and not by law mean that we are free to sin? Of course not. - Rom. 6:15 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -