Those who are living sinful lifestyles often believe they are living according to their own will. That they are making their own decisions and doing what they chose. Believing that they are the ones living in freedom. While Christians are living in bondage, unable to do as they please. Yet, the Bible teaches that those living in sin, are in fact, obeying the devil. Living bound by his will and acting on his command. Not living the free life they so often claim. Or making their own decisions as they think but instead simply following the deceptive teaching of the devil.
Ephesians 2:2 (ESV)
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
What so many fail to understand is that living in sin is not a choice. It’s not the result of free will or being your own person. In reality, is nothing more than a result of living after the fall and conforming to the enemy’s desires. Our only true choice is to forsake our old sinful lives instead of choosing to freely walk after the Lord. Christians have true freedom while those living in sin are bound by those very same sins. They are unable to free themselves from the addictions, lusts, and emotions they are controlled by. While Christians have been set free to live a new life through Jesus Christ.
As Peter said those living in the world believe they are living in freedom but in reality they are slaves. Bound by sin, corruption, and the enemy. Don’t believe that you are being your own person, making your own decisions, and living a free life if you live a life of sin. In reality, you are nothing more than deceived by the father of lies. Who is hoping you will keep believing you are free and never want to give up the temporary pleasures of this world to follow Christ. So that you will be forced to face the same eternity he is destined to.
2 Peter 2:19 (ESV)
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
Hebrews 11:24–25 (ESV)
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Matthew 25:41 (ESV)
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Don’t believe that living in sin is holding you captive? Just take a moment to think about the effects of sin that can be seen in the lives of so many today. Thousands cannot make it one day without a drink of alcohol. A chain that in many cases gets tighter and tighter until jobs are lost, families are broken, and even death occurs. The same could be said for drugs. Pornography is slowly destroying the entire construct of marriage. While also causing impossible standards to become the norm in the minds of many.
That’s not to mention all the other life-destroying and wickedness-inducing sins that bind millions of people. Such as greed, hate, envy, adultery, anger, gluttony, and the list could go on. All of these Christians are called to live a life free from. Not as an act of bondage but in order to provide a better life free of all the pain associated with them. Yes, Christians once did partake in many of these things but God saved them and set them free. While also providing the strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome the desires and temptations to return to such things. But always offering grace and forgiveness when we do fail and need to return to repentance.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 John 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Living in sin and obeying the call of the devil is not freedom. The world always wants to claim that Christians are bound by rules and are no longer free to follow their own desires. But we can see through scripture that Christians are actually the ones who are free. God has granted us freedom and its freedom to do anything. But we make the conscious decision to use our freedom to serve the Lord. Knowing God allows you to see how misguided you were in sin. Revealing the captivity you once lived in and the pain that came from it. Only allowing you to see all the more how free you are in Christ while others are bound by the things of this world.
Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
If you have been living a life of sin taken captive by the devil, know that you don’t have to remain that way. You don’t have to continue in a life of sadness, pain, suffering, anger, or depression. Jesus Christ came to set the captives free and save all people.
Luke 4:18 (ESV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
That includes you regardless of who you are, where you have been, or anything you have ever done. Every Christian was once where you are but God in His great mercy and grace freed them from the confines of the devil. He will free you too if you will only choose to forsake your past ways and begin to walk down the path of salvation. A path that will ultimately lead you to eternity in the glory of Heaven. Which is described by scripture as narrow and straight. Indicating the few who will choose to look for and find it. Unlike the wide path that those who have a false sense of freedom walk leading them to destruction.
Ephesians 2:3–5 (ESV)
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Acts 2:37–38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
The devil wants you to believe that living a free life is living in sin and the world has quickly adopted that message. But I implore you to take inventory of those around you and see who is really walking in freedom. And who is bound by the same things day in and day out. What I am sure you will find is that those following the so-called freedom of this world are in fact bound by obeying the devil. While those following Christ have the freedom to live a new life free of every chain.
The group that is making their own decisions free of deception becomes clearer every day. What kind of life do you choose to live? One of secret bondage or one of true freedom? The choice is yours. I only pray you will choose the freedom that can only be found in Christ.
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