Freed! Forever!

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”  John 8:31b-32

In 1973, Swedish robbers held captive several bank employees for six days.  During that time, the employees developed an emotional attachment to their captors, defending them even after they were arrested and the employees freed.  Since that time, a captive’s irrational bond to his captor has become to be known as “the Stockholm Syndrome.”

The Bible teaches us that all people are born captive to sin, a self-centeredness that manifests itself in countless ways.  Seeking even to establish a righteousness of our own making, we strive to keep an external code – be it the Law of Scripture or an inner knowledge of right and wrong.  When we try to attain that standard, however, Sin constrains us like a captor who binds us, orders us, manipulates us, mocks us and strips us of our dignity.

Being perfect in himself, however, Jesus offers us his righteousness ... for free!  It’s a gift we receive simply by believing Jesus and accepting it from him.  Sin, then, is overcome, stripped of his power over us.  We need no longer to strive for righteousness.  It is ours.  No one can take it away.

Why, then, would we ever return to our old captor?  Why would we ever again subject ourselves to Sin and his manipulative mind game:  ordering us to “be good” in our own strength, while at the same time making it impossible for us to do so?  Why?!?

Still feeling the pressure of attaining righteousness on your own?  That’s the way of Sin, our one-time abductor who tantalized us with impossible demands.  But Truth has set us free; Sin no longer holds us.  Don't go back there!

Still hearing the hiss of accusation for not measuring up to a certain standard?  That’s the powerless, gasping voice of Sin, still bitter in defeat.  We have received a righteousness from on high, purchased for us by the Son of God.  Listen only to him and trust only his promises.

Still evaluating others, as though they had any more power than you to attain their own right standing?  Remember what it’s like to battle against Sin who ensnares any captive it can.  Offer to others the hope you have found and point them to freedom in the One who is Truth, itself.

Jesus has set us free!  Today, we are free indeed.  Rejoice in that!  Rest in that.