They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
Summary: Nobody is free without Jesus.
What has mastered you? Do you know? Would you admit it if you did?
One of the lines I have often heard attributed to alcoholics is, “I can quit anytime I want to.” Translation: “I am not a slave of alcohol. It has not mastered me. I am the master of my own life. Alcohol is not in control of me. I am in control of me.”
The same can be said for hard drugs, pornography, you-name-it. The human condition is subject to any number of weaknesses. Once our weakness of choice takes over, when we lose the ability to walk away, we have become enslaved.
The examples I have used are simple. They are obvious and hard to argue with. Yet, there are thousands of other examples that are less obvious. Less obvious, but equally deadly. In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, he lists more examples (Romans 1: 18-32). In addition to sexual impurity, he adds:
- Envy
- Murder
- Strife
- Deceit
- Malice
- Gossip
- Slander
- Hating God
- Insolence
- Arrogance
- Boastfulness, and
- Disobedience
Take something as benign as boastfulness. Should that be on a list like this? Is it possible to be a slave to boastfulness?
Each of these traits is a weakness that Satan uses to tempt us. The Christian is not immune from falling into these traps. The difference is that the believer who falls in knows he is in a trap. God’s Holy Spirit lets us know we have done wrong. Not only do we want to avoid the trap in the future, but God gives us the power to do so.
Without God, the desire to boast becomes a crutch. We rely on it to build up our ego. We become addicted to the power we feel it gives us over others. Each of these examples works the same way. What feels like a choice is not one. We have become a slave.
What has mastered you? In the United States, we like to think of ourselves as free people. Under our constitution, we are, in theory, free. But free to do what? Are we free of desire? Even if we are successful in a material sense, are we free, or are we a slave to our need for success?
What does a free person look like? Do you know? I suggest that the only person who ever lived a truly free life was Jesus Christ. He served his Father willingly, but he was not a slave. He truly could have walked away at any time. Yet, he chose to stay, to suffer, and to pay for my sins and yours, allowing us to be like him, free (John 8:36).
Freedom is more than words. It is more than saying, “I can quit anytime I want.” It is the power to walk away and not look back. The trick is to avoid walking into another trap. Unfortunately, the frightening truth is that we are surrounded by traps! There is only one direction that offers freedom, and that is God’s truth. (John 8:32).
Application: Do a self-check. How free are you? Is there something in your life that needs more Jesus?
Food for Thought: How can we tell if a person is a slave or free?
You referred to a great verse for this in your devotion – John 8: 32. Right before Jesus tells that if we know the truth, the truth will set us free, He tells us that if we continue in His word then we are truly His disciples (John 8: 31). In fact, all of John 8: 31 – 36 is instructive.
There are many ways to answer this question. First, we must have Jesus in our lives to be free and have eternal life (1 John 5: 11b – 13). Then, to live free we must remain in His word ( John 8: 31) and walk in the Spirit ( Galatians 5: 1, 25).
Rich,
I agree, the John 8 passage has a lot to offer. One of my favorite parts is the passage where the Jews in the temple court get their nose bent out of shape at the idea of being a slave:
“They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?'” (John 8:33)
Never been slaves? How about the four hundred years they were in Egypt? What about their disobedience to God when they made slaves of each other? How about when they were in exile? Even at the point they are speaking they are not free because they are under Roman rule! If we refuse to admit the obvious, how can we possibly see the deeper truth of our slavery to sin if we live without Jesus?
Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
I like that verse because really tells me I am a slave to the one I obey…choose to obey. Just as Rich pointed out, choosing to obey the Spirit brings the Fruits of the Spirit. Choosing to obey my own sinful desires brings death. I take that not just to mean physical death and spiritual death, but also death in relationships both between people and with God. As we allow ourselves to be enslaved again, we are cut off and isolated.
Chris,
Thank you! Your explanation of death is spot on.
11-22-2021, 2 Peter 2:19, How can we tell if a person is a slave or free?
All believers are cleansed spiritual beings existing in corrupted physical bodies. We have chosen to become a slave to righteousness but must moment by moment battle against some aspect of our corrupt flesh as we seek living in Christ over pleasing our flesh. There is no in between.
1 John 1:9, 2:1, Romans 7:21-22
We are all slaves, to the one we obey. We were once slaves to our flesh which leads to eternal death and through Christ, the Holy Spirit has come into our hearts making us slaves to righteousness enjoying eternal life which has been given to our spirits.
Romans 6:16-18
Imperfect beings seeking to serve our Perfect God.
Paul wrote, For I know that nothing good dwells in me, “THAT IS IN MY FLESH”. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me”.
Romans 7:18-20
Complete sanctification, perfection in Christ is our goal. We grow in progressive sanctification while on earth knowing we will only receive complete sanctification when we are separated from these bodies and joined with Christ in Heaven.
Hmmm….
Okay Ron. So your answer is that we are all slaves? 🙂
Of course the Bible says:
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Is this another pair-o’-docs? 🙂
On a serious note, I appreciate your point. It is important to remember who and what we are. As you remind us, we are spiritual beings, born into new life in Christ (John 3: 3-7). We are, and always will be, at war with the part of the flesh that is drawn towards evil.
I thought this was another interesting para-o-docs. So happy to be set free from slavery of the flesh so I could become a spiritual slave to righteousness.
Spoke at my Church “Thanksgiving Service” yesterday regarding the blessings given us as we truly seek to live as slaves to righteousness, accepting the offer from Jesus to share His yoke.
Just don’t know what to tell you Jeff,
Blessings Brother,
Ron
Thanks Ron!
I am right there with you. The paradox is that we are more free as a slave to Christ than we could ever be as a “free” person without Christ.