Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

Freedom is not freedom from God but freedom to God. We can either have wages, or we can have a gift. Sin pays wages, and the only wages sin can pay is death. But God gives a gift.

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God knows all our sins. This includes your thoughts, your words, your deeds, your motives, and your intentions. It includes sins of commission—what you have done wrong—and sins of omission—what you have failed to do right. God’s standard is holiness. It is referred to in Scripture as His Law. It is over all peoples, times, places, and cultures. There are no excuses, and there are no exceptions. In the presence of a holy and righteous God, sinners will be silenced, sin will be judged, hell will be filled, and punishment will be inflicted. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Jesus doesn’t give wages you can earn; He gives gifts that He has earned. Jesus went to the cross and paid our debt to God. He paid the wage, which was death. Jesus lived the life that we have not lived—the life without sin. He died the death we should have died— the death payment for sin. When Jesus was dead and buried, it looked like Satan, sin, death, and demons had conquered our Master. But then He came forth in newness of life and walked out of the grave.

Our Master conquers sin. Our Master conquers death. Our Master conquers hell. Our Master conquers Satan. Our Master conquers demons. Our Master conquers condemnation. Our Master conquers everyone and everything. And He says, “I choose you and you and you.” He sets you free, He makes you free, and “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Everyone looking for freedom is looking for Jesus, whether they know it or not. Jesus is freedom. We are not free until Jesus sets us free. There is freedom for you in this life. There’s freedom for you through this life. There’s freedom for you after this life. You are set free from sin and set free to Jesus. It matters not what happens in this world because we are the children of God. We have freedom, power, and new life in Christ.

Today’s Reflection

Have you accepted the free gift of God, or are you still earning the wages of sin?