Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God ~ Romans 8:21.
Introduction:
Total liberty should be an inalienable right of every man. He may look now altogether unknown and unsought, uneducated and underexposed. He may even appear poor as poverty itself. But, no matter what, he has a birthright to be free, and he ought not to be content until he finds it and enjoys it fully.
It is quite obvious that the world today is not what it once was, when its Maker pronounced it 'very good'. And, it is also certain that it is not what it will be when the rule of God's kingdom pervades the earth.
Of a truth, the earth has suffered much since the fall of man in Eden. Adam was free and majestic in the garden, but from the fall till now, the entire earth has been groaning. However, a glorious change is guaranteed when, as the result of Christ's obedience, the Lord’s blessing fully descended upon it (Romans 5:19).
The vast majority of the people of the world today live like slaves to the destructive force of sin. Just think of the myriad of drug addicts and the hordes of people bound to immorality, unbridled aggression, deceit, pride, self-aggrandizement, religious bigotry, unbelief and other such vices. Some of these people may as well wish they could be free, but are unable to help themselves.
Happily, God arranged for all men to be free indeed. Jesus Himself already paid sin’s penalty for us to enjoy freedom from the power of the fallen sin nature of man! He wants us to be able to rejoice in His glorious liberty (Roman 8:21). And today, this liberty belongs to all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Alleluia!
For the purpose of clarity, God's children are people who have repented of their sinful ways, and received Christ into their hearts by faith (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). And, whenever this happens, the believer is sealed with the Spirit of adoption, “whereby we cry, Abba, Father”(Romans 8:15).
Adoption is something more than pardon, for someone may be pardoned and yet not be a child. It is more than justification, for we may be justified and yet not heirs. It is even more than holiness, for we may have the look of piety and yet not belong to Him.
Yes, it is God in His infinite mercy that pardons, justifies, reconciles, and sanctifies. But, to be adopted into God’s family is to be actually counted among His children, and to be in union with His only begotten Son, as a heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. Oh, what a glorious privilege! What a blessed state!
Privileges of God’s Children
There is an unfettered spiritual liberty for God’s children, and that liberty confers on us certain privileges, which are divinely bright and unspeakably glorious. Let us now examine a little more closely, in what our liberty consists.
First of all, there is the liberty from the bondage of sin and its penalty, which is eternal death. Meanwhile, the Christian man, whilst delivered from the despicable power of sin, is likewise delivered from the dominion of it (Romans 6:14).
We are now legally free from all our foes, all sicknesses, oppressions, afflictions, poverty, and from all fears, including the fear of death. And, in the end, we shall have perfect liberty in God's holy heaven. In short, we have the liberty of access to heaven!
We are at liberty to enjoy all that God has provided for us in the Bible. Ours is a never-failing treasure filled with boundless stores of grace from the bank of heaven, and any believer who so desires may draw from it as much as he pleases without let or hindrance.
Unfortunately though, there is not one Christian that has ever lived up to the fullness of his bestowed privileges in Christ. None that lives up to his spiritual income, so to say. None!
As children of God, we have an infinite spiritual income, which we must strive to vitally enjoy to the fullest. In particular, we must set up a larger room for God, do greater things for Him, and begin to rejoice in our glorious liberty as His children (1 Peter 3:15).
Meanwhile, you do not have to bring anything with you to the table, except your faith and confidence in the integrity of His Word. Bring as much of these as you can get, and pronto, you are welcome to enjoy all that is promised in the Bible.
Finding and Enjoying Glorious Liberty
Yes, as we must have known by now, liberty is assured to all believers in Christ Jesus, but the important question is: “where do you find true liberty”?
True liberty is found only where you find the Spirit of the Lord: "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). It is found where the Spirit of the Lord is, and nowhere else.
Indeed, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty in its fullest, highest, and widest sense. Hence, those who are prone to grieving the Holy Spirit, or those who carelessly walk against the ambience conducive for His operations, are inadvertently working hard against their own cherished personal liberty.
The liberty, which the Holy Spirit offers, is an infinitely glorious, greater and surer liberty, and only Christian men and women can enjoy it. Why? He is the free man indeed, whom the Truth — Jesus Christ — makes free. Without the Spirit of the Lord, ye may still be in spiritual bondage, wherever you are, even in a free country.
Jesus died in our stead. He committed no crime at all, yet, being our Passover Lamb, it was our death He died as our ‘scapegoat’ on Calvary’s cross. And, by faith in Him alone we can enjoy glorious liberty as we truly embrace Jesus Christ, and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.
You may please be reminded that all of us who are now free in Christ Jesus, were once slaves to sin and Satan. But, we are now free, and have more or less of God's likeness because we are born of Him by the operation of the Holy Spirit.
Beloved reader, are you one of God's children? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and live by faith in Him? Do you have the Spirit of adoption? Is God your very own father? Are you His very own child?
If so, lift up your head and joyously look forward, for however it may be with you now, you will eventually enjoy "the glorious liberty of the children of God!" And, if not yet, why not just place your trust right now in Jesus Christ who died your death. When you do, you will soon find how gloriously true it is that “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Happy Sunday!
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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