When you were slaves of sin, you were “free” in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become “slaves” of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:20-22

The world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly offering to set you free. By “freedom” they mean freedom from God and from what they frame as the restrictions placed on your behavior and lifestyle by His Law.

What they won’t tell you, and what they refuse to let anyone else say, is that while claiming to set you free, they will bury you ever deeper in guilt and shame, enslave you to addictions and compulsions, and finally, death. That’s the freedom the world, the flesh, and the devil offer. And it’s not just physical death; it’s eternal death, too.

I’ve buried too many people that I love who died from drug overdoses. I’ve seen too many wonderful people entangled in sinful choices, thinking they were finding freedom while the chains of guilt and self-destructive behavior wrapped more and more tightly about them.

Jesus offers real freedom. Freedom from guilt, because you’re forgiven. Freedom from enslavement because you’re redeemed, your old self is crucified with Christ, and the power of His resurrection is pouring life into you, enabling you to live free of the things that enslaved you before.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Real freedom and life, that last forever: that’s what God offers. Do it His way!

Father in heaven, give me the freedom that You offer, that only You can give. Forgive my guilt and set me free day by day from the chains of my sinful choices, for Jesus’ sake; let me experience it! Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles