Freedom In Christ?

 Are you not aware that to whom you are presenting yourselves as slaves for obedience, his slaves you are, whom you are obeying, whether sin for death, or for obedience for righteousness.

Paul to the Romans 6: 16, Concordant New Testament 

Christians often point to the fact that we as believers can be free in Christ Jesus.  Free to live a life free from condemnation.  Of course, these same Christians will harp on the idea that we still need to worry about sin as well.  How is it that we can be free in Jesus if we're still worried about the sin He has taken away?  So, is there indeed freedom in Christ?  Certainly, but not if you're to interpret the words of the apostle literally.  We often toss around the word slavery when we discuss our sin nature.  Indeed, we were once slaves to sin {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  What has changed that is the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  Through Jesus, we are no longer sinners.  I will submit the definition of slave for consideration.  A slave is "A person who is forced to work for and obey another and is considered to be their property; an enslaved person."  So, do you still think that you're free in Jesus?  The apostle Paul refers to slavery as "Presenting yourselves as slaves for obedience" {Paul to the Romans 6:16}.  Paul refers to our former obedience to sin, and our obedience to righteousness in which we were slaves.  In todays current culture, the issue of slavery continues to be a hot topic, which is why I understand why the mainstream church has not discussed the issue of slavery to sin AND slavery to righteousness all that much.  As slaves to sin, were we ever transported from our homes against our will?  As slaves to sin, were we ever forced to work for another?  As slaves to sin, were we ever punished physically for in our attempts to be free?  See where I'm going here?  I have a friend who claims that total freedom is an illusion, that mankind has always been a slave to someone or something.  I can see some truth in this belief.  For we were once slaves to sin {Paul to the Romans 3:23}.  But it is also Paul who proclaims that we are no longer under the bondage of sin {Paul to the Galatians 5:1, Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  So, if we are no longer in bondage to sin, who or what are we in bondage to?  Realizing that we must indeed be in bondage to something or someone, what would that be?  

For freedom Christ frees us!  Stand firm, then, and be not again enthralled with the yolk of slavery.

Paul to the Galatians 5: 1, Concordant New Testament 

Now for the kicker, who is it that goes the extra mile these days to keep us in bondage to sin?  Who is it that constantly reminds us that sin continues to be an issue in our lives?  That would be the mainstream institutional church.  For reasons known but to them, the church continues to speak the lie that we continue to be in bondage to sin.  A good friend of mine recently commented that the church needs to cease and desist from this behavior.  I agree.  For preaching the bondage of sin overshadows the truth of the freedom we find in Christ Jesus.  Yes, the church can speak all day long of the freedom we find in Jesus, but they nullify that by speaking to our own continued bondage to sin.  If you're sitting in your pew on Sunday longing for that freedom in Christ, you will certainly be reminded of your continued bondage to sin.  Of course, this goes against the truth of the gospel of Jesus, who became sin on our behalf that we would no longer be in bondage to it {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Most believers understand that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  Yet, many still believe that they remain in the bondage of sin.  They present prayers each day for the Lords forgiveness.  I don't blame them, I blame the message they continue to receive from the pulpits.  Paul speaks that we have indeed been set free of the bondage of sin by Christ Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 5:1}.  The question we need to be asking is, who are we now in bondage to?  

~Scott~