How to Be Set Free for Life Through Faith & Forgiveness

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Do you know someone who has faith in Jesus but believes that the changing culture defines sin?

Jesus asked a group of Pharisees and religious leaders…

“Why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?”

Matthew 15:3

God defined sin, and Jesus said the following about its power in our lives…

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.”

John 8:34

He also told people how to be set free by the TRUTH…

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31b–32

So, it’s important for us to know the truth about sin and Jesus.

Jesus taught that He didn’t come to do away with the Commands God gave to Moses and the prophets…

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

Matthew 5:7–8

We are all sinners, but by God’s grace through repentance and faith in Jesus, we don’t have to be slaves to sin. Jesus is the Way to be set free!

“There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.”

Luke 24:47

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Romans 6:6–7

Jesus also taught that sin is more than doing something wrong or not doing what’s right; it includes all our thoughts, attitudes, and desires that do not align with God’s will.

The Spirit inspired Paul and John to write…

• Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23)
• If we say, “We have no sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 CSB)

Those Jews listening to Jesus didn’t want to hear about their sin…

“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”

John 8:33

We are all sinful slaves who need to be set free through humble repentance, forgiveness, and the power of the Spirit through faith in Jesus. Through His sacrifice and the blessing of faith, we are set free to recognize our failures, lay them before the cross, and ask God to work in us and help us live for His glory.

Jesus gives every humble repentant heart the freedom to experience His love and share it with others.

Paul wrote…

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

Jesus kept God’s Law perfectly and took on our punishment so that we could be set free from the power and slavery of sin.

Paul also wrote…

 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Whatever people want to believe, sin is not based on the beliefs of culture but on the will of God given to us in the Word of God.

And His Word tells us that sin is anything that does not love God and people as He commanded.

But God in perfect love, sent Jesus to set us free and make us free to love by the power of the Spirit.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Be Set Free for Life

Father God, I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. Like Paul, I do things I don’t want to do, and I don’t do the things I know I should. I fail to trust and obey You faithfully. I am so very sorry. Please forgive me.

I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, and I know I could never be good enough to earn it, but I believe Your promise to forgive me when I come to You through faith in Jesus.

I don’t understand Your amazing grace, but I am abundantly thankful for it.

Please work within me and guide me so I won’t give in to the foolishness of a changing culture that ignores Your commands. Guide me with Your truth about those things previous generations excused and allowed … things I’ve done because I’ve never known the truth. Things You don’t want for us because they excuse less than Your best.

Please fill me with love for You and “and my neighbor“. Set me free to live with love for Your glory. I love You and give myself to You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Martin Luther wrote…

“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved.”

Jesus gave His all to set us free. We can’t possibly comprehend the fullness of God’s love for us.

But I know one thing for sure, I don’t ever want to take His love for granted.

So, I will celebrate the Lord’s love every day and remember…

“If the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

John 8:36

May we pause today and praise God because by grace through faith we have been set free.

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