Liberation

When we speak about liberation, by implication there must be something binding us. The bonds of sin are horrible; they bind the sinner and force him to do the same evil deeds over and over again. As long as he is bound by sin, the curse of the law affects his heart and mind, because cursed is everyone who does not continue to do all things that are written in the book of the law. Nothing can weigh down and oppress a person’s mind more than this curse, and if sacrificing earthly goods could liberate and purify a person’s conscience, many would gladly offer all their possessions to be liberated. However, something more is required.

In His great wisdom, God gave us a Redeemer—Christ—who redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Gal. 3:13. Jesus had to come down to earth to help us, because “inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14.

Jesus had to become like us. He had to come down to where we are, be born of a woman, and be tempted in every way that we are tempted. As a man, He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not threaten when He suffered. He spoke the truth and did not fear those who were able to kill the body, because His body was always presented as a living and acceptable sacrifice to God. His words were like goads, which is why the religious world of His day cried, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.” Jesus was despised, mocked, and spat upon. Afterwards, they hung Him on a tree between two robbers. He was numbered with the transgressors.

He in whose mouth there was no guile now had to suffer; but this is exactly where we find our own liberation. God’s spotless Lamb was numbered as a transgressor so that He would be able to help the transgressors. The devil drove his servants to lay hands on the Holy One of God, but in doing so, the devil fell into his own trap and was crushed by the death of the Righteous One. If Jesus had been a transgressor of the law, the devil would have had the right to do what he did; but Christ was righteous. The one who brought about the death of the Righteous One (i.e., the devil) made himself guilty of death, which is exactly what the devil did.

By His death, Jesus rendered powerless the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Because He suffered as a transgressor, even though He was righteous, He can now forgive transgressors and justify the ungodly, because only the one who has been wronged has the power to forgive. Because Christ was wronged even to the point of death, He can now forgive and save right to the point of death. That is how He renders him powerless who has the power of death, that is, the devil.

So now, when a person who is bound in sin is united with Christ in His death, the devil has to let him go. The devil, with all his power and bonds, can then do nothing. Christ conquered principalities and powers on the cross and made a public spectacle of them. So if we press in until we reach Christ on the cross, we will come to the One who is the true conqueror and to the place where every enemy is overcome.

The secret of getting power is in and with Christ on the cross. When the lusts have been crucified, the devil can do nothing. That is the power. And that is why the cross and power cannot be separated. There are many who have tried to be rid of the cross so they could just enjoy the power, but sooner or later, they have all fallen into the snare of the devil.

It’s on the cross that we receive true liberty. There the curse of the law must release its prey, and a person’s conscience is pure. However, from the moment the curse of the law releases us, we must align with the laws of Christ that lead us to the cross and self-control, because liberty in Christ does not make us lawless.

It feels good to be liberated from the curse of the law. You feel as free as a bird from everything and everyone. God’s desire is that in this liberty we exercise ourselves in all our godly fear; He loves those who serve Him voluntarily and with a willing heart. It is in this liberty that we are to bear our cross, knowing that all things work together for good to those who fear and love God. Although we are free from all men, we can—in this liberty—make ourselves a servant to all. Liberty makes us agile and nimble; it gives us understanding and power to exercise self-control and self-denial. If liberty is paired with wisdom and understanding, its possessor will—through the fear of God—be invincible. What more could a person desire who is clothed in Adam’s mortal flesh?

When we stand in this position, it bodes well that we will gain the upper hand in our battle against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places and against the rulers of the darkness of this age.

In the midst of all our liberty, we can learn something from considering how Paul used his liberty. The things that were gain to him he counted as loss, because the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Lord, was worth so much more to him. Phil. 3:7-8. In all his liberty, Paul counted everything as loss so that he could know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, because he wanted to be conformed to Him in His death.

There are not very many who, in the midst of their liberty, choose to partake of fellowship with Christ in His sufferings, who choose to follow Jesus—when He, led by the Holy Spirit, steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem—and who choose to be crucified and to die with Him.

It all depends on a person’s attitude. Most people would like to be with Jesus at the wedding in Cana and share in the glory on Mount Tabor. But the desire of Jesus’ heart is that you watch with Him in Gethsemane, and that, in love for Him, you also share in His sufferings. If we do this, we will one day also be glorified with Him.