True Freedom
Colossians 3:3-10
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God’s command in the Garden of Eden, they sold mankind into sin. Their nature was corrupted, and this sin nature is passed on to every person.
Only those who have received the Son (Jesus Christ) as their personal Saviour and Lord and draw near can receive the grace and strength to resist the enemy, the world’s ways and issues in their own life. They have the Holy Spirit within to help.
No one knows their own way perfectly, and must rely on God for guidance, forgiveness, comfort etc. He has given His word in the sacred Scriptures as a lamp to truth, but only the Holy Spirit can give us clear understanding, renew our mind, and motivate and enable us to turn from evil and grow in God’s ways. We need a genuine friendship with God. A desire to read the Bible, pray and live ‘in Christ’ simply flows from this.
Those apart from Jesus cannot redeem themself to be right with God, as the sin nature still rules them, unbroken and active. The world has its own standards and methods for living. God alone has true perfect understanding of life, and He works to free His children from sin by His Spirit and transform their lives.
God’s eye is on those who love Him, who wish to be free. He gives them His righteousness as they draw near and obey.
The Lord is not harsh, but resists all forms of evil. In faith, we must surrender to Him completely if we want to be freed from sin.
Other Scripture
1 Corinthians 5
1 John 1:7-9