Beech Tree News Network

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians for the second time and said, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (II Cor. 3:17). Liberty or freedom is a wonderful thing. Our country is founded on the principles of liberty or freedom for all who are citizens. We have experienced wonderful liberty that the world at large does not experience. However, the liberty promised in this text is not liberty in economics. Nor is it liberty that can only be experienced by people in a certain nation. Rather, the liberty promised in II Corinthians 3 is a liberty that can be experienced by anyone upon the face of the earth. This liberty comes from Christ and it ought to be pursued vigorously.

    Paul said, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” As we think about this statement, let us ask from what are we being liberated? What is Paul talking about? In the immediate context, the apostle Paul was saying that the Christians in his day (and today) have freedom or liberty from the Law of Moses and what went with it. (See also: Gal. 5:1-4.) The apostle Peter called the Law of Moses a “yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Therefore, through Christ, we have been granted freedom from this law that was once practiced by the Jews and their proselytes.

    At the same time, the spirit of the Lord grants man liberty in many other areas of life. What are some things that are trying to enslave us today?

    Some things that are trying to enslave mankind include sin. Jesus said that those who commit sin are the slaves of sin (Jn. 8:34). Paul used some of the strongest language possible when he said he at one time was “sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14). Yet, liberty from sin comes through Christ (Rom. 6:18). Connected with this is the fact that Satan tries to enslave us. When we are serving Satan, he has enslaved us and become our master (Rom. 6:12, 16). We need freedom from him, and again this freedom comes only through Christ (Jn. 8:36). The apostle Peter wrote a letter which said that false teachers promise “liberty” to those who would follow them. Yet, they are actually enslaving people (II Pet. 2:19). False doctrine enslaves, but the truth shall set us free (Jn. 8:32)!

    I imagine we could think of other things which tend to enslave mankind, but these are enough to show us that it is Christ that grants us true freedom from the slavery of Satan. Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). We are made free when we obey the Lord’s plan of salvation (Rom. 6:16-18). Do you want freedom? True freedom comes through Christ and through no one else!

-- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167