John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, Therefore, since we re justified, acquitted, declared righteous and given a right standing with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace (state of God's favor), in which we firmly and safely stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
Faith isn't "getting God to do something," but accepting what He has already done by His Grace. Faith doesn't move God to do something, but faith receives what Jesus paid for with His Sacrifice. We still "feel like" we must do something, in order to "deserve" God's Grace. If we've done something to deserve it, then it would no longer be Grace, but it would be something God owed us for our works. The enemy lays this trap and we get caught up i this relationship of works. This frustrates the Grace and keeps it from delivering what God has already made ours by faith.
In John 8:36,31-32 (Amplified) Jesus said, "So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you really are and unquestionably free." We all recognize this is true, for all who receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. What are we doing with our new liberty and freedom? We've all heard the quotes, "Who the Son sets free is free indeed" or "The Truth will set you free," even in unsaved circles, but WHAT IS TRUTH? Jesus continued in Verses 31-32 saying, "If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in according with them), you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
Sadly, slavery exists throughout our world, even today. The slaves were set free from the bondage of captivity in 1860's America. As long as satan has had his hands on mankind, there has been slavery. President Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves and called the free men and women, but after being free, what could they do? We think they could do anything, but not everyone accepted the new law.
Most slaves were never taught how to read or write and held no skills, other than what their duties plantation duties entailed. They had no money, no property, no transportation and many didn't know where their family members had been sold to. They were free, but now what? Many returned to the master they served before being freed. There were laws that protected their freedom, but most didn't know or could read these laws and the owners didn't want them to know these laws.
Years after the Civil War ended, the slaves were legally free, but many remained slaves, because no one kept or enforced the laws. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death." Even though he has no right to do so, Satan has used the same deception, in order to illegally hold people. We haven't experienced the Liberty we have in Christ Jesus, because we've been ignorant of the Laws of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said that, "Those who abide in Him and His Word, would know the Truth and the Truth would set them free." We've been made free from the Law of Sin and Death, by Jesus. If we don't understand the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, then we fall into the same trap satan has used to hold men captive, since the Garden of Eden.
When America was first founded as a nation, her leaders established laws and statues to govern the people and guard our freedoms and liberties. We've succeeded these freedoms and liberties, because we didn't understand the Republic that was given us and we've believed we are a Democracy instead. We were given a Constitution and then allowed others to amend it and take away what we had. When asked, "What have you given us?" Benjamin Franklin answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Christians have done the same with God's Word, giving differing opinions about what it truly means to be free in Christ. We sing about it and proclaim it, but we remain in bondage and slavery to a taskmaster we don't even recognize. We are free, so what do we do with our liberty? It it only for when we die and leave this earth? Or are God's prearranged paths, for while we're here?
Decades after the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in America, some places changed very little. The slaves didn't know how to be free and the others didn't know how to provide without slavery. God gave Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a call and vision about the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Dr. King wasn't only free, but he was going to do something with his freedom and be free. I'm proclaiming to you now, that "If we are free, then we need to be free by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus."
Jesus proclaimed "The Word of Liberty, the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound," quoting in Luke 4:18-19 from Isaiah 61:1-2. Jesus proclaimed this Word of Liberty and then set about to prove this Liberty, to all who were bound. Jesus proclaimed Liberty that included Spiritually, mentally, physically, and to those from other nations.
The Law of Liberty Jesus proclaimed is all inclusive and for all who would believe what He said. What did this Liberty and Acceptable Year of the Lord mean to God? It meant those who were sick, handicapped, blind, poor, deaf, had leprosy, and bound by slavery to a task master who is without conscience (satan), are free. Jesus set free and broke the power of sin and death from off of the people. Jesus was born of a woman, He was the Son of Man, He was give Life from the Spirit, and He is the Son of God. Jesus was free from the Law of Sin and Death and He walked out not only His freedom, but brought others into freedom too.
Jesus maintained His freedom by not getting caught up in the things that held others in the slavery of the worldly kingdom. Jesus continually lived in His Freedom by God's Word. Many tried to bind Jesus with their laws and ways, but He refused to be bound. Jesus spoke God's Own Word, did only what He saw the Father do, and kept His freedom, when the enemy tried bringing Him under bondage and slavery and tried tempting Him.
We've been made free, but what is required to maintain and uphold our freedom? The Church has sadly ignored many teachings the Lord has brought to them. Is the Law of Confession (having what God's Word says we have) bondage or freedom? Many believers consider it bondage, to control their words by God's Word. Jesus said it was His Liberty, to stay away from bondage.
How far are you willing to go, to live in this Liberty or the Law of Liberty that Jesus has brought us? It's a Spiritual Law that always works, if we're faithful to operate in it. Are you willing to do that or are you complacent and falling back into slavery, by sleep and slumber?
Freedom isn't really freedom, if you're not free. We can sing about it and talk about it and even proclaim the Freedom Jesus came to give us, but every individual must walk it out for himself/herself. It's already there and it's already yours, but you can trade it for one bowl of soup, like Esau did. Or, you can maintain your Freedom by God's Grace and faith in His Grace.
When you turn your Freedom over into the hands of others, then you'll only have as much of that Freedom, they deem necessary or appropriate. We can't let others diminish the Freedom God has given us. You might think that I don't need to be healed, in order to the free, but since it's my choice, I choose the Liberty that, "By Jesus' stripes I am healed and made whole." You might ask, "What does this have to do with being free?" It gives me the ability to walk in paths that God predestined before He created mankind. It enables me to enjoy my freedom in Him.
Jesus asked, "Which is easier to say? Thy sins are forgiven you or Take up your bed and walk?" Then, Jesus said, "So you'll know that the Son of Man has authority, I say take up your bed and walk," in Luke 5:17-26. This is Liberty and the Acceptable Year of the Lord. True Liberty includes, spirit, soul and body.
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