Observation: Paul is continuing his conversation of salvation by faith, not by works of the law. His metaphor is now about the freedom of salvation through faith in Jesus, compared to the slavery of attempting to comply with the law. Yet he does clarify that the freedom doesn't mean that there is not still compliance with issues of sin, nor is it without service (to one another in love).
Application: We - Christians - have lost our way in this conversation when it comes to "post modern" society. Today, non-believers perceive that life as a Christian is actually a sentence to slavery ... that Christianity defines a set of laws and norms, that then dictates a certain "lifestyle". In contrast, their lives without Jesus constitute freedom - an opportunity to do as they please without the "yoke" of any judgmental rules.
And THIS is the great lie that the enemy has established! Non-believers do not understand that their lifestyle choices are, in fact, slavery. They work 65 hour weeks in order to amass wealth, and don't recognize their jobs as a prison and their materialistic desires as the cell bars. They indulge in promiscuity and adultery, and don't realize that the broken and damaged relationships left behind them are now the master that controls their direction with physical desire the master's whip. They seek concepts related to self-enlightenment and free will, only too late to realize that all they are doing is shackling themselves in a pit of unfulfilled sadness ... a pit that is very real, because it is supposed to be filled by God.
Yes, Christianity comes with "rules". It also comes with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. It also comes with a command to "love one another." That should be the "lifestyle" of Christians - people with the fruits of the spirit, who display those fruits to and for each other.
Does that mean turning away from certain sins? Yes! When a person has those sins in their life, do they not become a slave to those sins? Yes!!!
Freedom in faith does not mean freedom to do everything. It means freedom to decide to obey Jesus.
Prayer: Father - Abba - you know I have decided, and that decision is irrevocable. I will follow and obey Jesus. My lifestyle should reflect that choice. Please help me to ensure that is the case. I want to be more like Jesus, and more in line with his will, every day. Please lead and guide my daily decisions to achieve that goal.
At the same time, please show your church how we can explain the concepts of slavery to non-believers. I have friends whose entire lives - from the moment they awake to the moment they sleep every day - are controlled by one set of "free decisions" that are destroying their immortal soul. They are slaves. Please give us guidance to show them another way to freedom.
Amen
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