THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE During His ministry among men, Jesus spoke of the freedom realized through Him. It would be ministered through "the truth," which is the articulation of spiritual reality. Once seen, or known, that truth brings liberty to the soul. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Confirming that this would not be accomplished independently of Him He added, "If THE SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). That is, men would be liberated from servitude to sin, and given free access to the God from whose glory they had fallen. -- Tomorrow:
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
Devotion 18 of 33
Christ has freed us in order that we might REMAIN free, unencumbered with sin, and no longer blinded by the glory of God. Paul referred to this circumstance when he wrote to the Galatians, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1, NASB ).
A REAL LIBERTY
Our text affirms, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." It does not say it is possible for there to be liberty, or that there ought to be liberty "where the Spirit is." In other words, the Spirit does not hold out a goal we are to seek to attain. Rather, this is a very real condition that is found wherever "the Spirit is." This is a liberty that is revealed in spiritual growth and advance – growth that is the direct result of not being held in bondage by the Law, and being able to draw close to the Lord. If men are really not freed from the bludgeon of the Law, or if they really cannot draw near to God, it can only be because the Spirit of the Lord is NOT present – for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there IS liberty."
How, then, are men to know if, for them, the liberty really does exist? Our text will affirm that steadfastly gazing at the Lord and being "changed" confirms the liberty has been realized. If we can, in fact, engage in the action now described, we are free. If we cannot, we are still in bondage. The difference in those two states is the presence of the Spirit, who is the Lord!
THE IMPLICATIONS
The implications of this text accent the absolute necessity for a Savior and a New Covenant. By nature, or in an unregenerate state, we are slaves to sin. As it is written, "ye were the servants of sin . . . when ye were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness" (Rom 6:17,20). Paul said that prior to our acceptance in the Beloved we were "dead in trespasses and sins." The condition was so woeful that we were described as being "children of disobedience," and "were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph 2:1-3).
Liberty involves being delivered from that woeful state, being kept from it, and being transformed from one stage of glory unto another, until, according to God's predetermination, we are finally conformed to the image of God's Son (Rom 8:29). A view of salvation that does not include these things is not from God, and consequently is not true.
True liberty requires the presence of the Spirit, without which the Divinely required work cannot possibly be done. If the Lord does not "build the house," all of the builder's labor is in vain pointless and useless (Psa 127:1). The means of transformation will now be expounded, and it is surely glorious!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the reality and effectiveness of freedom in Your Son.