Free At Last

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

We live in a society that pigeonholes all the ills that degrade humankind; alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual perversion, child and spousal abuse, etc. to name a few. In an effort to correct this behavior, therapy, counseling, and self-help groups have been instituted by professionals (psychiatrist, and psychologist) calling the public’s attention to the fact that, although these problems exist, the victims of these so-called “diseases” can never be completely free of the “demons” within that initiated the destructive paths to begin with. Even self-help groups have been established for men, women, young adults, as well as, children who unfortunately have been abused and mistreated by loved ones and/or others in an effort to build their self-esteem in order for them to function as they should by the world’s standards and take their rightful place in today’s society.

Unfortunately, the mindset of taking case by case, problem by problem, and habit by habit, has seeped into the church with some following the lead of the unsaved and ungodly in hope of “evangelizing” the world.

The root cause of all the world’s problems are summed up in one word — SIN. Apostle John declared “all unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17); and regardless of how sin is manifested, what label is placed upon it, whomever commits it, and however the world chooses to categorize it making it more palatable and acceptable, it remains sin.

The Bible just doesn’t define the problem for all the world’s ills but God provided the remedy through His Son Christ Jesus. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Sacred text does not record “step” programs, therapy or counseling sessions; just a simple “go and sin no more” or “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” was sufficient. Yes, Christ came into a sinful environment to loosen, release, and set free, those bound by the power of the enemy, not just temporarily but permanently! The power to be released from the addictive and destructive forces of sin is available to all who call upon Him. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

There is a deeper truth the church has neglected and must repent of committing itself to embrace, believe, and proclaim fervently to avoid falling into the pitfall of being subject to the world’s help systems. Christ preached and taught emphatically “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

First of all, who ever repents of their sins and receives full salvation, justification, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost (see Spirit First, The Steps of Salvation, NFCOG Press) is no longer a servant of sin. That is what “make you free” means; the former sinner now serves God and not the appetites and lusts of the their flesh.

Secondly, the word “indeed” must be internalized and brought to bear in the process of deliverance. Without any question, certainly, of a truth, and surely is what Jesus said when he stated “ye shall be free indeed!” Unequivocally, when the blood of Jesus washes the soul white as snow, there is no desire to sin much less a need for seeking therapy, counseling, and self-help groups with classes to attend hoping to get better.

Christ is indeed the answer to heal and deliver the maladies of the body, soul, and spirit of mankind. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Then, and only then, can the delivered individual declare “free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I’m free at last!