Young people in Singapore today want freedom to pursue their dreams and not be bound by “tried-and-tested” paths. However, this cry for “Freedom!” is not unique to today’s youth but echoes from youths in every generation. The previous generation, emerging from World War 2 and relative poverty, sought freedom from want and fear. Throughout the world, people seek freedom to vote and marry, and to have the freedom of speech and worship. It is clear that freedom is an important pursuit for everyone.
But we should not be content with simply pursuing “more freedom”. We should also question “freedom” itself: What do we want to be free from? What do we want to be free to do?
The Apostle Peter warned the early Christian Churches against counterfeit freedom that is very deceptive, because it appeals to our sinful nature. “[False teachers] promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Pet 2:19). Our study of 2 Peter 2 have shown us that false teachers are greedy – they accumulate power and wealth – and indulge in sexual immorality (2 Pet 2: 2-3, 10, 14). They will entice people to follow their sinful ways by boasting and luring them through sensual passions (2 Pet 2:18). Teachers like these cannot be teaching true “freedom” but a dangerous kind of freedom because the Bible, God’s Word, tells us that it is actually slavery to sin.
Instead, true freedom is to be free from being a captive of sin. Sin has separated us eternally from a holy God and made us captive to sinful and deceptive living. However, the true freedom we can get was achieved for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. His death on the cross at Calvary and His rising from the dead opened the way of freedom for us – a free and right relationship with our holy God. “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Gal 5:1a). Our old self was crucified with Jesus so that the sin in our lives is forgiven and we are no longer slaves to sin (Rom 6:6). What a wondrous freedom to be able to say “no” to sin and ungodliness, and to continually lean on Jesus and Holy Spirit power in our weakness. Thanks be to God for this true freedom and the victory we have in Jesus!
