Freedom Is Not Free

Individual and National freedom is not without sacrifice and sometime extremely high cost.  We that sit quietly in in the confines of our peaceful homes seldom realizing or considering the cost of that freedom and tranquility of life.  Few countries in the world are privileged to enjoy the liberties that we in this country enjoy.  The liberty to prosper, raise our families, have religious freedom, own our own homes, vote and a number of other liberties that could be mentioned.  But those rights are not free.  From the revolutionary war to the present wars have been fought to keep our freedom secure.  During the Revolutionary War there were 4,435 lives lost, the War of 1812 there were 2,260, the Civil War 498,332, Spanish American War 2,446, WWI 116,516, WWII 405,399, Korean War 54, 246, Vietnam War 90, 220, Persian Gulf War Was 1,656, Global War on Terror 6,852.  Do we still think freedom is free?  If we do, how would you like to try to explain that to the families of the man and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you to make such a claim?  People protest, fuss, complain, criticize, spit at, refused service and a number of despicable acts toward the soldiers and others who paid the price to provide the umbrella for them to have the freedom to do so.  No, dear reader freedom is never free.

As it is with physical freedom, so it is with spiritual freedom, it is not free.  We have been promised the possibility of freedom,  “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.”  In John 8:36, we are told that freedom comes through Christ the Son and if the son makes us free, we are free indeed.  This freedom that can be ours was a costly freedom.  It cost God His Son, “God commendeth His love toward us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).  Jesus emptied himself and gave up all the riches of glory and came to this land of suffering and sin for the express purpose of tasting death for every man, bearing man’s sin in his own body (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24); that we could be spiritually rich (2 Corinthians 8:9) and be made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).  No, our spiritual freedom is not free, it cost God his Son, and it cost Christ giving up the riches of glory and His life for us to have the opportunity to be free.  As it is with physical freedom so it is with spiritual freedom, some do not appreciate the price paid.  They mock at it, criticize it, contradict it and even deny it, yet it remains open to all “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Let us also realize that not only is our spiritual freedom costly to God and Christ, it is costly to us.  It is true that our freedom is in view of God’s mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:5-9), but this does not remove the fact that our liberty is costly to us.  “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).  Note verse 22 “But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”  From these passages we learn that we are servants.  A servant is one who serves (Hebrews 12:28).  As servants we are to be fruit bearers.  Consider John 15:1-10.  What will be the end of those who do not bear fruit?  They are cast forth as a branch and burned (John 15:6). One’s freedom from sin, while we cannot earn our salvation (Titus 3:5) is not unconditional, that is you have no conditions to meet.  Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  After one becomes a Christian he is to remain faithful (Revelation 2:10), he is to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), add the Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-10), adding the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Dear reader freedom is a cherished thing whether it be physical or spiritual.  The spiritual is far more important and valuable and the cost was far higher.  One may be a slave physically but free spiritually or one may be free physically and a slave spiritually to sin.  What a blessing to be free in both respects.  In either respect freedom is not free.  Are you willing to allow Christ to set you free?  If so it will require you learning and obeying the truth (John 8:32; John 6:44-45), “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin…” (Acts 2:38).  When one does so what is the cost?  “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”  Freedom is not free!

Bill Cantrell