Are you free

 

Freedom:

This  subject comes up often.

Jesus Christ said – “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

So many millions in our world are not free!   Why?

   My study and my interactions with many cultures and religions, has showed up evidence of men manipulating and controlling others. By religious brainwashing and demands of ritual adherence with death threats for all who choose to change – this leaves billions of people living in fear. Not so much fear of God, but fear of oppressors, society  and family.

In many cultures, the religious demands transfer into political control and social obligations. Fear gives way to despair and people comply with dictatorial demands for survival. The evidence is that so  many  have rejected Jesus Christ as the Lord from heaven and don’t believe in Him as the Saviour of all people. Those choosing to be different are persecuted and penalised.

What does Jesus Christ the Lord offer that is so different:

1.        He encourages people to believe in Him, with the freedom to choose, or not to choose. To research and understand.

2.       All who call upon His Name are promised deliverance from personal guilt before God and receive Eternal Life instead of hell.

3.       To follow Him is freedom from fruitless rituals and attempts at working for God’s favour – grace overcoming evil (Ephesians 2)

4.      In His kingdom, all are free to do good things with love being the motive to serve friends and enemies. (Matthew 5)

5.       The teachings of Christ are high in expectation, but the choice to obey or not is left with the individual and not enforced by religious police or the like.

6.       Freedom in Jesus Christ is controlled by the motive of love – and love does not harm others.  (Romans 13)

The Lord Jesus illustrated freedom in the stories of the lost sheep and lost son.  Both chose to wander away (freedom to choose), but such was the character of the shepherd and Father – both wanderers were able to find forgiveness and acceptance again. Such is the character of our Lord God expressed so fully in Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I teach citizenship to diverse migrants in Australia, I thank the Lord for freedom to choose, and wish the same for them.

JRM