Don't Be Enslaved, Don't Be Bewitched

Many see Christianity as this serious attempt to stop doing all the bad things we do and start doing all the good things God expects. "Don't drink or smoke or chew and don't date girls that do." They see these demands to be limiting. They are burdensome. They become heavy chains that suck every ounce of joy out of life. This is not the Christian gospel. The good news of the gospel is described in previous posts. The only way we are made right before a holy God and reconciled to Him is through the death and resurrection of Jesus. So why do Christians spend so much time on all the do's and don'ts? The answer is this: Jesus sets us free from sin, not makes us free to sin.

Rom 6:4-8 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin. (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

This is life, not life sucking burden. This is freedom, not bondage. We were enslaved to sin, if you don't think so, stop sinning and lets talk about it in an hour. Freedom from sin is a progressive thing (more on that later) but know that God does not look upon us and say "I love you so much that I am freeing you from the penalty your sin deserves, but I am going to leave you to wallow in the misery of it the rest of your natural life." No, instead, he forgives us from the penalty and begins to wash us clean.

There is admittedly danger here. In fact Paul called it a bewitching doctrine to turn our eyes from faith in Jesus and return to a religion of works. Gal 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. (2) Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

So don't return to bondage, be free. Indeed! John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."