“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)

When any issue is addressed, the flesh is usually the first voice you hear. The flesh (or the carnal nature of man, where sin dwells, the old man) views everything in light of the physical and what would allow him to reign in a person’s life.

He views everything through three motives: 1) lust of the flesh; 2) lust of the eyes; and 3) the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17; Ephesians 2:2-3). However, wickedness will not deliver you, it will destroy you. Sin and its pleasures are only for a season (Hebrews 11:25).

In reality, those who walk in the flesh think they are free, but actually they are in bondage. They are not free, but are slaves to sin (Romans 6:17, 19, 20a, 21). The word “servant” in verses 17 and 20 is the English translation of the Greek word “doulos,” a servant in bonds. Here, Paul is speaking of a spiritual bondage. This bondage came through Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in their transgression of God’s law (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-4). This plunged all in Adam (his posterity) into a position of sin, spiritual death, separation from God; and made them bond slaves to the law of sin and death.

Those who cannot come out of chemical, sexual, alcohol, or any other addiction are proof of this spiritual bondage. But it is deeper than that. Paul said again in Ephesians 2:1-3 that you are dead in trespasses and sins, until quickened by the Spirit of God. The work of the Spirit in the process of the New Birth is the only way to be free. This means that every thought and intent of your heart is evil until you experience regeneration.

See Romans 6:6-22, especially verse 22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Regeneration, or being born of God, is the only way out of the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8:2, 14-16; Galatians 4:6-7). When this happens to you, then you are free. That is you are free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). But you are not free to sin as you will. Paul said “God forbid” (Romans 6:1-2); you are now a bond slave to Christ. You are given a new nature:

“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).

You are given the new man:

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

Now your will is to love God and please Him and love the brethren. Your fruit will be unto “holiness” and not to wickedness.

Then, if I am only changing masters from the flesh to Christ, how am I free? You have received a spiritual resurrection to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4), which is proof that your old man has been crucified (Romans 6:6-7). Now you are not walking in death (spiritual), but in life (spiritual). You are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ; you are led by the Spirit; you walk in the Spirit; and you live in the Spirit. All of this means you are an overcomer of sin. Sin has no more rule over you (Romans 6:14).

In summary, if you are born of God, you are free; for Christ lives in you (Galatians 2:20). His life (eternal life) is living in you and through you. You are no longer bound to eternal death, but bound to eternal life.

The question is: Are you free? Free of the law (or rule) of sin and death?

I have spoken to many incarcerated inmates, and even though their bodies are behind prison walls, even though they were servants of sin; now in Christ their testimony is that they are free in their spirit. They are no longer in bondage to sin. Yes, they are free indeed!

Do you want to be free from the rulership of sin? Do you want a new way of life in this present wicked world? Do you desire to have power to overcome your addiction, whatever it is? Do you want to have peace in your spirit that you are free? Do you want to know what true freedom is, even when your body is in bonds?

If you do, look to The Christ on the Cross as your Substitute, Who has paid for your sin debt, and you are free. If you are thirsty for a drink of the Water of Life, then come to Jesus Christ and confess your Salvation based upon Him, He is God, and based upon His Atonement for your sin debt on the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9-10; Revelation 22:17, Isaiah 53:10-11).

See John 8:31-36, verse 36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” When God reveals your freedom is in Christ, then confess this freedom before men in scriptural baptism, rejoice in your freedom in Christ, and live in this freedom no matter your physical circumstances.