If you had lived in the Southern part of the U.S. In 1863, this would not have been a strange question. Millions of African Americans had been held in bondage for centuries in that part of the country. But in December, 1863, the President of the United States issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all the slaves who lived in states that were in rebellion at that time. Curiously, none of the slaves in states under the control of the North were freed as yet. But the Emancipation Proclamation broke the back of slavery.

Jesus made an all-encompassing emancipation proclamation one day. It had no geographical limits! He said, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. John 8:36 Just before that He had said, “the truth will set you free”. John 8:32

Free from what? And how does truth set us free? Jesus had told them that the person who sins is the servant, or slave of sin. When you are a slave you are powerless. You have a master and you have to obey! What an analogy that is to sin in our lives! We have a master and it is our old sinful nature. Romans 6:12. Regardless of education, culture or wealth we all have to admit it’s true.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are set free from the power of sin! “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness”! Romans 6:18. What does that mean, “slaves to righteousness”? Are we just exchanging one type of slavery for another? There is a world of difference! Jesus bought you to set you free! 1Corinthians 6:19,20.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”! Galatians 5:1. Freedom from the power of sin in your life, freedom from the bondage of keeping the law to be saved, freedom from the darkness of deception by revealing God’s truth to you! Freedom! You have the freedom to be the willing slave of Jesus Christ, to give him your heart, your life. He died to set you free!

Over man’s history, some slaves have managed to buy their freedom. Freedom was so precious to them, they would often work most of a lifetime to purchase it. What did it cost for God to buy your freedom? A million dollars? More than that! A billion? Much more. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ”. 1 Peter 1:18,19. What cost God everything cannot be cheap to us. To give Him our lives willingly as bond-servants is our “reasonable service”. Romans 12: 1-3

Pastor Terry